Role Models features many regulars from the Judd Apatow stable. Here, under the lead of Director David Wain, they attempt to re-create the formula that made Apatow’s name enough on its own to sell a movie. And mostly it works. The jokes are funny, and Paul Rudd’s understated delivery of clever, cutting remarks serves to highlight some of the absurdities of everyday life, and of the other characters in the film.
However, Apatow’s films are largely unpredictable in many ways. Role Models is utterly predictable from the moment you see the trailer. The story is blindingly simple, and you can almost sing along with the plot points. But because the jokes work, the characters are likable.
High Energy
Danny (Rudd) and Wheeler (Scott) travel from high school to high school giving ‘Say No To Drugs’ seminars as part of a programme designed to sell a high energy fizzy drink. It’s an ideologically indefensible, dead-end job. Danny views his career with deep, existential loathing. Wheeler loves it. It’s a blast! So it’s a buddy movie.
The boys have a bad day and after being arrested and charged are faced with a choice between jail time or community service. They choose the latter and join ‘Sturdy Wings’ where they must take responsibility for two disturbed youngsters, Augie (Mintz-Plasse) and Ronnie (Thompson). The boys have some serious emotional problems. But don’t worry about that, you just know that 55 minutes down the line, it’s all going to be fine.
Alcoholic drug addict
Jane Lynch is pitch perfect as Sweeny, the reformed alcoholic drug addict and founder of Sturdy Wings. No one can do worldly-but-naive like Lynch. Rudd’s screenplay skewers her character flaws with relish.
Danny and Wheeler bond with their ‘difficult’ charges at astonishing speed. All their emotional and behavioral problems are solved in jig-time. But you know what, this ain’t Dead Man Walking.
After an amiable hour or more, Role Models draws to its inevitable happy close with a 15 minute final scene that really rocks. It’s gag upon gag, each one gaining momentum from the absurdity of the situation and the characters’ recognition of this absurdity. And Kiss fans are always funny.
Of course, it all turns out exactly like you knew it would. This isn’t a bad thing, because along the way you have a few laughs. Role Models has charm, and many more funny lines than the ones you already know from the pre-publicity. That’s rare in comedy at the moment. Go. Buy popcorn. Laugh. Don’t over-analyse.
- Role Models
- Director: David Wain
- Screenplay: Paul Rudd
- Starring: Sean William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Bobb’e Thompson, Jane Lynch.
