Viewed in
2010
Premise
Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star as two adults forced to attend a child mentoring program.
Loved
Bobb'e J. Thompson.
Liked
The humor, likable cast.
Thoughts
As advertised, it was a fun, light-hearted comedy.
Also as advertised? Hilarious Bobb'e J. Thompson. This kid stole the show as the most foul-mouthed and adorable kid character in memory. Obviously he had great lines to deliver, but his performance was so natural that it made comedy gold.
The rest of the cast was charming. Seann William Scott was actually at his most likable as the sidekick and a walking cliche machine. Ken Jeong put in another strong comedic performance as the bullying role-playing king. Also, there was the pre-Glee Jane Lynch, polishing her weird, goofy onscreen persona.
Role Models earned its R rating with its vulgarity, but there was also a good blend of pop culture jokes and non sequiturs. I liked the part when Scott mentored Thompson on the art of breast-watching without getting caught, and how everything in the Christopher Mintz-Plasse's role-playing world had a "That's what she said" innuendo. My favorite moments were the hilarious Battle Royal entrance and Thompson's Reindeer Games joke.
What did not work for me was Rudd and Elizabeth Banks as the lead/love story. Rudd came off as annoying and Banks was dull in the suffering girlfriend role. Another flaw was that the plot was very predictable, though I admit the climax was excellently executed.
Overall, I enjoyed this funny, likable film. And I learned what a whispering eye is.
What I would change
Cast someone less famous than Elizabeth Banks. For such a small role, no need to spend the extra budget just to get a name.
