A. Nesbitt |
Date: 2009-03-25
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. When I first saw the trailer I thought it looked interesting, but apparently no one else did. After seeing the positive reviews and hearing from friends that it actually was a very funny movie, I decided to pick it up on BRD (my first BRD btw). While the story isn't particularly original and a bit predictable, it walks the line between having a heart and over-the-top-and-frequently-crude humor perhaps better than any movie since the original American Pie (the fact that Sean William Scott is in this movie is just coincidence). And this is a comedy after all; people are expecting feel good laughs--not crazy plot twists.
I think most people know about the main characters, who do an excellent job, as well as the plotline, so it's worth mentioning that the auxilary characters are hilarious, especially Jane Lynch. Her friendly and well-meaning but borderline-psychotic demeanor is hysterical. I also enjoyed the overzealous dweeb who's volunteered for over 5 years for Sturdy Wings (the "Big Brothers" type of organization Lynch runs), and the "King" and his minions in the fictitious role-playing game that Augie (McLovin') takes part in. Almost all the characters add a little something to the movie, which is great.
As for the added content, the deleted scenes are, as expected, hilarious. Blu-Ray exclusives include things like Blu-Ray Live, which connects you to the internet for some exclusive content, and the ability to cut out certain scenes. I haven't gotten too much into it, but it adds some longevity to the entertainment of the product if that's your thing.
Anyway, if you thought the previews were ho-hum, don't let that fool you. This movie was perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the year, with a light hearted but solid story and, most importantly, huge laughs.
Andrew Ellington |
Date: 2009-06-16
After seeing `I Love You, Man' (I really need to review that) I came to realize that Paul Rudd is brilliant. He has this stellar way of making his humor so lovable and totally believable. You can see yourself in him and you want to be his friend. Even when he's being a sarcastic, stuck-up, pompous moron you can't help but want to reach over and pinch his cheeks. He just wears `everyman' so well, and it bleeds effortlessly into his acting (I mean, seriously, I'm thinking he needs an Oscar nomination for her performance in `I Love You, Man').
So, with all of this in mind, I had to see `Role Models', a film that I was marginally interested in before I saw `I Love You, Man' (it's funny how a singular cinematic experience can change your views on a lot of things).
What I expected to find was your typical raunchy buddy comedy with the occasional clichéd moments of forced emotional warmth. What I got was a hilarious non-stop comedy with the right amounts heart and the right amounts offensive (yes, it is offensive) to make this a memorable and rewarding time at the movies. I laughed throughout its entirety and I actually felt the human connection as the film delved into the warmer aspects of the plot, as I knew it would. What makes this film so different from your typical comedy is that, while it has some of the same clichéd elements as every other comedy out there, it goes about them in a refreshing manner (much like `I Love You, Man'); so instead of a boy breaking up with a girl only to get back together (or in this case a `big' breaking up with his `little') they have elements surrounding these `break ups' that make the whole premise feel somewhat new and exciting.
The premise is that two men get in trouble for defacing public property and are sentenced to community service at a center for kids who need some adult guidance. Wheeler is the laid back party guy who would rather spend countless hours with obnoxious children then find himself prey to countless men in prison (he is a pretty boy). Danny on the other hand hates his life and hates pretty much everyone around him and so he just wants to go to prison. Wheeler gets himself set up with Ronnie, the foul mouthed little boy living in a single parent family, while Danny gets set up with Augie, the strange kid living in a fantasy world alienated from his mother and step-father. The two men have a lot to learn about life, but surprisingly they actually teach these two young kids a thing or two as well (and not just how to check out a girls rack without getting caught).
I am not usually a fan of Seann William Scott (I find him a tad over the top for my taste) but here his wit is so sharp (and the pairing of him with Rudd was genius, since they play so well off one another) that I was instantly a fan. Rudd is by far the more controlled and more endearing of the two, especially since his character has the biggest arc. He actually transforms into a real man by the films end, which is wholly believable and actually quite charming in the end. Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin') and Bobb'e J. Thompson are both pitch perfect in their respective roles and the rest of the supporting cast (especially the hilarious Jane Lynch) are delightful and really help carry the film.
Yes, `Role Models' is not (and I repeat, NOT) a film for children despite the fact that it stars two of them (how old is that Thompson kid anyways, I mean, he never seems to age). It is littered with foul language and suggestive material and the characters have horrible attitudes for a good portion of the film and they even teach the kids some very questionable things, but the film has so much heart to go along with the offensive that it makes it a joy for any adult to watch and serves as some very, very funny adult entertainment.
Bethany B |
Date: 2009-03-31
I expected to like this movie because it looked like a fun comedy and I think Paul Rudd is a funny actor, but I didn't expect to laugh as hard as I did throughout viewing this. There is a great assortment of characters in this movie from the leads (Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott) to the kids they mentor to the hilarious characters that engage in fantasy role playing battles to my personal favorite - the woman who runs Sturdy Wings, the organization that Paul & Seann must volunteer at.
Sometimes I watch a movie that is supposed to be a comedy and I feel like every 10 minutes there is a joke. This movie felt jam-packed with jokes and it even had a bit of a feel-good message at the end. My one disappointment is that I didn't think the character played by Elizabeth Banks (love her as an actress) was developed enough. Some of her best stuff ended up in the deleted scenes, and it would have been nice to see more of her comedic chops in the actual movie.
