So, after a few years of generally heart free
(and therefore, very funny comedies) it is a little worrying to check
out something like Role Models and discover that there is just a little bit more "heart" here than one might have expected.
Role Models follows
a couple of energy drink salesmen - the downbeat Danny (Paul Rudd) and
the party guy Wheeler (Seann William Scott) - who get hopped up on
their own product, commit one too many crimes, and only escape jail
because Danny's lawyer ex-girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) cuts them a deal
to help out at a big brother style charity for kids.
This set up, which sounds like the kind of thing a current movie comedy would make fun of, is played pretty much straight.
Then the guys pair off with their kids.
Danny gets a live-action role-playing nerd played by Superbad's
McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), while Wheeler gets a foul-mouthed,
breast-obsessed pre teen - the hijinks are interspersed with the
occasional straight-faced "you gotta take care of kids" and "kids
should be free to be who they want to be" scene.
Make no mistake, there is plenty of funny stuff going on here, with the kids especially bringing the laughs in serious doses.
The
live action role playing finale is a classic, the running jokes about
Kiss and Wings are hilarious, and there is no doubt that comedy fans
will find this well worth the money.
But it has to be said: this movie contains gratuitous, occasionally jarring "heart". DVD EXTRAS with Sean Lynch
Plenty of stuff on offer with the "Booby Watcher Special Edition" release of Role Models.
Along with a bunch of commentaries from director & co-writer David
Wain, there are also a plethora of deleted scenes & alternate
takes.
Paul Rudd is the king of the "extended improv" - and
you have to wonder if these out takes are worth the purchase price
alone for Rudd fans.
Also the "Game On: Creating a Role Playing World" featurette is well worth a look as well.
Conclusion:
Movie 75% Extras: 70%
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