Danny (Paul Rudd) hates life. Wheeler (Sean William Scott) loves it. Danny hates his job and is an asshole to everyone. Wheeler loves his job and...is an asshole to everyone. These two superstars are the center of the latest David Wain (The Ten, Wet Hot American Summer) directed comedy, Role Models.

Danny and Wheeler are reps for Minotaur, an energy drink company where their jobs are to basically go around, drink a ton of Minotaur, and tell kids to keep off the drugs. Sounds simple right? Well, catch these guys over-juiced and on a bad day, and you might find their Minotaur truck on the wrong end of your horse statue. There's no cleverness at play here, these two literally crash their truck into a bronze equine sculpture outside of a school. Danny's girlfriend saves the day and helps them avoid prison time by getting them community service enrolled in a big/little brother program.

The movie may seem like it's setting itself up for a run-of-the-mill, been there/done that kind of story, and guess what? It basically is, except what this film lacks in storytelling creativity, it makes up for with heaping piles of laughs. Scott and Rudd play our two leads with improvisational joy and enthusiasm. Supporting player Jane Lynch throws us her usual curve ball of a wholesome and good woman peppered with a dark and seedy past involving cocaine and body sales. And our two lil's Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bobb'e Thompson deliver all the humor they promised us from the trailer. David Wain has branched out into mainstream filmmaking by making a significantly less wacky film story-wise, but keeping most of his particular brand of humor intact.

Now I don't want to seem too praising of the picture, because it does suffer its slow parts, and not all the jokes hit the nail on the head. The story is very paint by numbers, but after you get past that, you don't care much and you just enjoy the film for its humor. It's nice to see Wain embracing the studio system and bringing his films to a wider audience, and pretty much anything with Rudd and Scott warrants a watch from this reviewer. So yeah, that's my bias. That and I have a soft spot for small black children who say, "Fuck you, Miss Daisy", to Caucasian grownups. It's the little things that keep you going.

Review by: Greg MacLennan

 


Comments

Bill

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:07:23

Wow. Was that a review or and excuse for hero worship? Jeez, I always wanted to know the name of one of the 507 people who actually think David Wain is talented and here you are. Greg MacLennan.

You want to know why people stay away from David Wain films in droves. Because they aren't funny. You'll understand that when you grow up and put the bong down.

 

Greg

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:46:47

Bill,
If you expect me to respect your opinion on David Wain you should provide me the same courtesy. I'll be the first to admit David Wain comedy is very hit and miss, however, I found Role Models to be wholly enjoyable.

People read review sites because they enjoy reading that person's opinion, and I apologize you and I don't see eye to eye. Maybe you should actually try watching the movie with an open mind before condemning it.

 

Darcie

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:02:26

Bill, I'd normally have to agree with you. David Wain makes me do the opposite of laugh, and all my hipper than thou friends crucify me for it. But honestly, Role Models is basically a David Wain movie turned big budget/studio friendly. It's really funny, and you should probably a. see it before judging it, and b. maybe not call everyone who enjoys david wain a pothead.... just a thought. but we appreciate you visiting our site and taking the time to comment.

 

Justin

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:16:34

Bill,
After reading Greg's reviews for a while, i can honestly say hero worship is something he will never be guilty of.
Also, if you're inclined to disagree with someone, i don't believe that personal attacks will win any argument, must less respect. Hence why they are called fallacies.
...Although i must confess, when i read "put the bong down" i kinda laughed.

 



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