"I bet if I suggested a game of Quidditch he'd cum in his pants"
Man-boys learning to grow up, half the cast of '40 Year Old Virgin' & 'Superbad' and making geeks seem cool; one could be forgiven for thinking 'Role Models' is the latest Judd Aptow feature, but while Judd Aptows name might not be on the tin, but his shadow looms large over 'Role Models'.
Energy drink spokesmen, Wheeler and Danny (Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd) find themselves performing community service, working with troubled kids after Danny goes on a chemical fueled rampage after his long suffering girlfriend dumps him. Paired with a foul mouthed, pint sized 'boobie watcher' and a nerdy Medieval RPG enthusiast, Wheeler and Danny begrudgingly bond with the kids and while learning typical life lessons and growing up along the way.
It might sounds rather formulaic on paper, but surprisingly Role Models is far funnier than most of it's contemporaries. Rudd gives a typically morose and sarcastic performance and Seann William Scott's Wheeler is 'American Pie's' Stiffler turned up to 11, but despite the typecast roles, both leads bring such enthusiasm to their roles it's impossible to imagine anyone else playing the parts. Sadly it's only Elizabeth Banks, who was excellent in 'Zack and Miri make a Porno' that let's the side down, being given a character as thin a coke addicted Hollywood starlet, to work with.
With dialogue as sharp as anything Kevin Smith has written, but as accessible as that from the Judd Aptow stable, the script really elevates Role Models making it an early contender for the best comedy of 2009 (the Ben Affleck lines are destined to be quoted for years to come). Expertly walking the tight-rope between comedy and sentimental slush towards the end, it's a truly winning script that improbably culminates in a RPG battle as exciting as anything from Braveheart (which is quite some achievement when you think about it).
Great characters, top notch performances, and razor sharp dialogue, Role Models might be predictable and formulaic but it's the first great comedy of 2009. Deep, profound and meaningful, not really, but it's a winning comedy that transcends it's run of the mill premise and is far too much fun to miss.
