Role Models

Stars: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb'e J Thompson, Jane Lynch

Director: David Wain

A lowbrow slacker comedy with a few decent laughs along the predictable path of its plot, in spite of a sandstorm of swearing that threatens to derail the essential good nature of the piece. Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Rudd, who also co-wrote) are pals with dead-end jobs flogging a drink called Minotaur (Wheeler dresses up as one) which turns your pee green.

When live-in girlfriend Beth (Banks, from Zack and Miri) responds to his proposal of marriage by dumping him, Danny goes berserk, trashing the Minotaur van and a local statue at the same time. Given 150 hours' community service, the hapless pair are dispatched to 'Sturdy Wings' to help difficult kids.

Wheeler finds himself mentor to a foul-mouthed 10-year-old (Thompson) while Danny gets an older nerd (Mintz-Plasse from Superbad), obsessed with medieval role play. Running the program is Sweeney (Lynch), a wacko ex-junkie who bombards our heroes with her history of 'cocaine for breakfast and lunch' and tells them 'My mother was, of necessity, a whore'.

People hit each other a lot here, just like The Three Stooges used to, there's some gratuitous nudity for the lads and, natch, our heroes bond with their appalling charges in the end. How Beth could take Danny back just because he takes part in role play heaven only knows but, hey, it makes for a happy ending.

David Quinlan

USA 2008. UK Distributor: Universal. Technicolor.
98 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 1, Swearing 3.

Review date: 31 Dec 2008