ROLE MODELS
US, 2008, 101 minutes, Colour.
Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz- Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, Ken Jeong.
Directed by David Wain.
American comedies are getting harder and harder to review. One of the reasons is that, in recent decades, Americans have exercised a concerted push to get over their traditional Puritanism about humour, especially about sex, and are continually overcoming their inhibitions. This sometimes means, as with the comedies from Jud Apatow, there is a great deal of funny stuff, peppered with expletives and, for those who get it, plenty of innuendo. And the reason, they are hard to review is that often they are very funny, sometimes in an 'off-colour' way and are not embarrassed (as some of the audience may be) by the treatment of sex and humour.
This applies to Role Models which has its heart in the right place but its jokes are in the, at least, above-PG area. It is often very funny.
Paul Rudd (who is one of the writers) is Danny and Sean William Scott (whom audiences tend to identify with his uninhibited Stifler character from American Pie – and he is not entirely different here) is Wheeler. They work long at a silly routine for schools. They foster an anti-drug campaign and promote a soda called Minotaur. Rudd gives the spiel and Scott is dressed as a dancing minotaur. After ten years, this gets too much for Danny and he breaks, and is ditched by his long-time girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks).
After several legal mishaps they are sentenced to 150 hours community work at Sturdy Wings, a centre for difficult or unwanted children, run by a very comically eccentric Jane Lynch.
You know, of course, where this is going: the resistance from the kids, the ineptitude of Danny and Wheeler, the bonding, the mistakes and crises, the happy ending. But, you wonder how it will get there.
The two boys are very good. Christopher Mintz- Plasse is the very embodiment of the bespectacled nerd who is most at home living and doing battle in a make-believe world a la Lord of the Rings and caught up in the re-enactments in the local park. Bobb'e J. Thompson is a ten year old with a mouth, vocabulary and attitude that would give Stifler a run for his money (and does do that to Wheeler).
Obviously, if you are feeling in a proper and prim mood, this is not for you. Otherwise, a guilty entertainment – justified, of course, by the correct ending!
1.An American raucous comedy? Free-wheeling characters, attitudes, behaviour, language, sexuality, exploitative characters? And the process of their being reformed?
2.The irony of the title, the audience knowing that they will change – but how?
3.An LA story, humour, jokes, farce, repartee? Innuendo and explicit jokes and situations? The songs and musical score?
4.Wheeler and Danny at their job, the soft drink, energy, their performance, Wheeler in disguise, the high school students, the speeches, their performance? Comic, anti-drug? Their vehicle? Ten years of performances? Danny tired of it? Wheeler free-wheeling? Their later behaviour and upsetting the students and teachers?
5.Danny, his relationship with Beth, the years together, his hopes, the offhand proposal, her work as a lawyer, breaking up with him? The effect on Danny?
6.The truck, the parking, the police, the driving of the truck, the catapulting, on the statue? Danny and his going on a bender, destructive, hyper-energy from the drink?
7.Wheeler and his personality, satisfied with his life, no ambition? His friendship with Danny? Audience sympathy for them or not?
8.In the court, Beth, the judge, sentenced to community service?
9.Meeting with Gayle, her organisation, Sturdy Wings? Her style, the pep talk, matter-of-fact, the humour, her past, her eccentricities? Her demands on Danny and Wheeler?
10.Sturdy Wings and its philosophy? The children, the sessions, Gayle introducing them to the boys? The role of parents and absent parents? The Big and the Littles?
11.Ronnie, his age, black and the jokes about race, his precocious language, behaviour? His mother being desperate? His stepfather? The clashes?
12.Augie, the bespectacled nerd, his parents and his father’s demands, their mocking him? His interest in the mediaeval games, dressing up, the language of Old England, the jousts, the historical re-creations? The title, Laire? Danny and his having to go, his lack of interest, his participation and his being bested? His sullen response?
13.Going on the camp, everyone together, the stories, the older men bonding with the youngsters, the possibilities for friendship? Wheeler, his sexual behaviour, the reactions?
14.Their failures, Danny and failing at Laire, Augie and his participation, the confrontation of the king and his court in the diner? Augie kicked out? Wheeler, taking Ronnie to the party, his selfish behaviour, losing Ronnie, searching for him? Ronnie going home, the exasperation of his mother?
15.The court date? Their not showing up? Danny and his idea, going to Laire, getting dressed up? The hopelessness of the cause? The players taking things seriously? Danny’s change, Augie and his support of him? Augie and his love for Esplen, her supporting him in the battle? The fight, the new team, the confronting of the king, Augie as the victor?
16.The parents and their pride in Augie, Ronnie’s mother and her forgiveness? Gayle and her being impressed? Beth and her being encouraged by Danny showing an interest in life? A suitable change, for the better, and a happy ending?
