Role Models
You know, for a non-Judd Apatow-produced movie, this certainly has a lot of the qualities (and actors) from an Apatow movie. Let’s start with co-writer/actor Paul Rudd, who along with Sean William Scott (Stifler from “American Pie”) brings sarcasm and immaturity to this film by “Wet Hot American Summer” director David Wain. Rudd and Scott are Danny and Wheeler, who go around hawking Minotaur Energy Drink to young kids and telling them to lay off drugs while the rest of their life is run with numbing-mundane-ness. One day, Danny has an epiphany- his life hasn’t amounted to anything, so in a rash move, he proposes to his girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks, now in her third movie in a month), who rejects his half-assed attempt at responsibility, which leads to a drunken outburst at one gig and him driving their bull-shaped truck on a statue of a horse.
Suffice it to say, this isn’t exactly a good move for them. Beth- who’s also a lawyer- tells them their two options: 1) 30 days in jail, or 2) 30 days/150 hours of community service acting as “big brothers” to children. The woman in charge (Jane Lynch, who pretty much walks away with the movie) has her eye on them, and sets them up with two of the more difficult children. Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, “Superbad’s” McLovin’) isn’t too tough to deal with for Danny- just a paralyzingly shy nerd who’s main passion in life is the real-life role-playing game he takes part in at the park, where his “country” is, by and large, a laughing stock. Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson), on the other hand, is a bit more problematic for Wheeler, but get them on the subject of woman and boobies, and they’re immediate “P.I.C.s” (Partners in Crime).
Will Danny and Wheeler have what it takes to mentor these kids? Will they take anything out of it beyond just finishing their required time of community service? Will you honestly be on the edge-of-your-seat to find out? “Role Models” may roll out exactly as you expect it to, but it’ll also have your rolling in the aisles with laughter by the end of it. Wain and his co-writers (including Rudd, co-star Ken Marino, and Timothy Dowling) give themselves and their actors plenty of material to work with, including a lot of riffs that border on the surreal (mainly provided by Lynch), a lot of kinky humor that borders on hilarious (Wheeler’s sexual adventures are truly Stifler-esque), and enough vulgar male bonding to make the coming months with no Apatow comedies coming out go by all the quicker. You know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. This one’s a raunchy treat to stuff ourselves with laughter with before we stuff ourselves with turkey this holiday season.
