‘Role Models’ or “The troubled youth of America are always an untapped fountain of comedic gold” (Review)

Posted by danhacker

November 23, 2008

Starring – Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks and Jane Lynch
Directed by David Wain
Screenplay by David Wain and Paul Rudd

Another one of this year’s surprisingly satisfying comedies is without a doubt the new David Wain film, ‘Role Models’. Wain’s film which was co-written by Paul Rudd is about two men, Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott), who can barley manage their lives. After they are court-ordered to become big brothers, they realize they need to grow-up in order to help out the kids they are paired with. It’s not a deep movie, but it’s funny, it’s raunchy but at its core it’s a film that has heart. When all of those elements come together along with the talent that’s on display here, it makes for a rewarding movie and a fantastic showcase for the potential Paul Rudd has to offer.

Paul Rudd is an actor I’ve always found enjoyable. He constantly delivers a certain deadpan comic flair to the roles he plays. In ‘Role Models’, Rudd stars as Danny, a man who is disenfranchised with what life has dealt him. He works as a spokesman for a Minotaur Energy drink and shamelessly panders it to the youth of America. He hates himself for it as each day passes. His partner- and costumed Minotaur friend- (using that term “friend” loosely) Wheeler, is someone who relishes in his immaturity in life. Dressing up as a Minotaur and hawking green stimulant to kids couldn’t make him happier. He’s a man that doesn’t need much in life beyond an endless supply of women. After Danny’s girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks. Again.) realizes Danny has become a negative force in her life she dumps him. This sends Danny into a downward spiral of self destructiveness fueled by Minotaur energy drink, that results in him having a confrontation with a school security guard and the end results is massive property damage, and a court decision to either commit Danny and Wheeler to thirty days in jail or 150 hours of community service in ‘Big Brother’ type program. Choosing wisely to take the community service option the hapless pair teamed up with Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) the introverted role-playing fan, and the sailor-mouthed Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson) who has reached his horny teenage years far too early. Together they embark on a journey of self discovery and personal growth that is all disguised under the veil of a raunchy comedy.

Paul Rudd has been a second-string player in the Judd Apatow click for a while now having supporting roles in ‘40 Year-old Virgin’, ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’. At this point it’s unjust that he keeps getting supporting roles since he’s a seasoned comedic actor. He’s got a deeper range then Seth Rogen ever has demonstrated. In this movie he plays a realistic and even, at times, a painfully relatable character. His chemistry with Elizabeth Banks is actually more convincing here than her chemistry with Seth Rogen in ‘Zack and Miri’. It’s pleasing to see Rudd being able to step up into a headline a film, even if it’s alongside Seann William Scott. Don’t get me wrong, I found Scott’s performance as the fun-loving party-guy Wheeler very entertaining, and he even stole a share of the laughs too. Seann William Scott is a perfectly capable actor who will unfortunately always be typecast because of his role in the ‘American Pie’ series. Even at his worst, his character is a likeable one that is just trying to do the right thing and sometimes just doesn’t know what that is.

Beyond Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott, the supporting cast of ‘Role Models’ holds their own. Christopher Mintz-Plasse who plays the live action role-playing geek Augie will probably forever be known as his ‘Superbad’ character, McLovin, but I honestly forget about him as that character in this film. He’s not a classically trained actor but he manages to overcome that. He’s a very sympathetic character being an outcast and not being understood by his family that just thinks he’s going through a “phase”. Mintz-Plasse who is older than his character, is able to play the quintessential misunderstood teen and some of the best scenes of the film are between Rudd and Mintz-Plasse. Bobb’e J. Thompson channels the troublesome youth from such films as ‘The Bad News Bears’ and ‘Problem Child’ and for being such a young actor steals scenes from Seann William Scott and his language alone probably garnered the films R-rating. Rounding out the cast is Elizabeth Banks playing her typically arch-type and delivering a perfectly capable performance. Reoccurring are Apatow-gang actors Jane Lynch and Ken Jeong. I love Jane Lynch. She one of the best underrated character actors in Hollywood and plays a different- usually bizarre- character in every film she’s in. David Wain faves Ken Marino and Kerri Kenney make an appearance as the inept parents of Augie.

Typically David Wain comedies are not this mainstream and accessible. Many fans of his cult film ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ might not enjoy this movie, but everyone else surely will. It’s Wain’s most mainstream film to date and it’s also his most conventional which actually plays to his strengths as a filmmaker here. Paul Rudd is slowly climbing the ladder to leading man status and I highly recommend you see this film to support him on that journey. He’s deserving of being a bigger star than he currently is, and I’ll even say the same about Seann William Scott. ‘Role Models’ continues the Hollywood trend of raunchy comedies with heart and characters you care about. There’s a reason this ever so prevalent trend continues in comedies- because it works. Its failsafe, flawed characters with heart draw us in because on some level they remind us of ourselves.