“Role Models”
Lauren Millslagle / Staff Writer / The USD Vista
This week I saw “Role Models.” If you don’t know what it’s about, read on. If you’ve already seen the trailers, skip ahead to my brief outline. “Role Models” is about Wheeler, played by Sean Williams Scott, and Danny, played by Paul Rudd. The two work as a sales team promoting Minataur energy drink and condemming drugs at various schools. They are court sentenced to 150 hours of community service after Danny has a self-hating break down and drives their Minataur truck onto a school statue. The two must volunteer at Sturdy Wings, which is run by Gayle Sweeny, played by Jane Lynch. Gayle pairs Danny with Auggie Farks, a nerdy, gawky dweeb who is obsessed with a medieval role-playing game. Wheeler is paired with potty-mouthed pervert, Ronnie Shields. Over the course of the 150 hours, Danny learns from Auggie, Wheeler and Ronnie to relax and not hate everyone so much.
What I like:
- Fogel from “Superbad” is in it.
- He is obsessed with a fantasy role-playing game similar to Dungeons and Dragons.
- Trudy from “Reno 911” is Fogel’s MILF mom. (I know that’s kind of unbelievable. It took me a few scenes to figure out who the actress was).
- Sean Williams Scott plays a slightly less obnoxious version of Stifler.
- Paul Rudd (the grumpy husband from “Knocked Up”) is really good at playing a middle aged, sarcastic, but strangely likable character.
- The creepy lady boss from “40 Year Old Virgin” does a great job playing a creepy ex-crackhead lady boss.
What I don’t like:
- It isn’t all that different from other teen comedies.
- Sean Williams Scott is still a little too Stifler-esque.
- Elizabeth Banks is in it and isn’t Miri. I’m not ready for her to play a responsible, mature adult quite yet.
- While it does borrow more than a few actors from Judd Apatow’s casts, it does not have Michael Cera.