Review: Role Models

The Apatow effect has really taken hold of Hollywood comedy since 2007. My favourite so far still being the arguable breakthrough film “Knocked Up” with Seth Rogen. SInce then, I’ve enjoyed the style and the actors in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Superbad and Step Brothers. There have also been those I was quite indifferent to (PIneapple Express!). I have to admit, I found myself predicting Role Model’s fate, thinking it would be cast into indifference due to one Seann William Scott, who I’ve always seen as a bit of an average film merchant.

However, my initial fears turned out to be dead wrong as I sat through Role Models, it now sits as one of my favourite modern comedies in a long time.

One reason for the success of the film has to be Paul Rudd. I first saw him as Phoebe’s husband Mike in Friends although he’s recently been more prominent on the big screen. Here, for the first time he really gets to show just what he’s capable of in this starring role (His leading bill is shared by Scott, but it’s Paul’s character who gets the bigger story). Rudd deadpans his way through a suitably amusing first act, including an unforgettable scene in a very familiar-looking coffee shop in which he berates the barista for the sizes scheme on their coffees.

“Look, dick, a Venti is a large coffee,” growls the assistant eventually
“Says who, Fellini?” scoffs Rudd, as I wonder why this man hasn’t seen a big role yet.

The Key to the film’s success lies, however in the children they are forced to mentor after a brush with the law. Rudd is assigned to now-cult hero Christopher Mintz-Plasse of Superbad, the oldest soul every inducted into “Sturdy Wings”. Christopher’s character Augie loves nothing more than spending his days traversing round the woods in a cape and plastic sword, play-acting a mediaeval fantasy battle with several hundred other enthusiasts. Rudd’s straight-faced style of comedy is perfectly suited for situations as ridiculous as this as he advises young Augie:

“Maybe you should think about losing the cape. People tend to avoid people in capes”

Scott, would you believe it, isn’t quite so lucky with his assigned child, as he is introduced to Ronnie, a small african-american kid with a penchant for tormenting his adult friends. In fact, no-one’s lasted more than a day Scott is told before he meets Ronnie. Scott, determined to break that cycle makes an effort with Ronnie, as the unimpressed child mocks his attempts at every turn. At one point, Scott agrees to stop off at a store and buy Ronnie some “OJ, but not that concentrate shit,” as he comes out, Ronnie locks the doors and has himself a mini joyride. Ronnie is by far the most foulmouthed player in this film, coming out with some excellent lines as he does it, though, such as when Rudd and Mintz-Plasse are dropped off for their daily dose of L.A.I.R.E. and Rudd says:

“OK, pick us up in two hours”
“Fuck you, Miss Daisy,” fires back Ronnie as they drive away. This film is smarter than it would have you believe.

It has the laughs, it has the brains and it has the heart. Role Models is a good start to 2008 for comedy and we can only hope it gets better from here (but not so much better that Role Models is entirely overshadowed) It’s a big film that’s thin, formulaic plot stumbles only very softly and only once or twice on the way to the customary happy ending. Despite these pitfalls, Role Models is all grown up and ready to face excellence.

8/10
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