Growing up, I always wondered what it would be like if I had no Father. After seeing David Wain’s buddy/big brother comedy Role Models I can honestly say thank god for my pop.
Although humorous this flick concentrates a little too long on the drama of two boys not having a man to look up to in their lives. Usually I am all about mixing drama with comedy but when you throw in Sean William Scott and Paul Rudd into the mix I want nothing but an hour-and-a-half of laughter.
The movie tells the story of two traveling salesmen (William Scott and Rudd) who commit a crime of stupidity in momentary rage which causes both of them to make a choice between going to jail and being big brothers to children without fathers. Naturally, they chose the latter. The movie then proceeds to go through an hour-and-a-half romp of duck-out-of-water antics between the leading men and the kids they have been charged with taking care of.
All in all, the film has some funny moments, but is relatively cliché from a joke aspect. Rudd’s kid, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, is a super nerd who lives his life in a fantasy world. Naturally Rudd plays a depressed too cool for school type so there is a continuous clash between the two characters. This set up is nothing new. The nerd vs. cool guy character has been a staple of buddy comedies for some time and has become somewhat old and tiring. This film also brings few new jokes to the table regarding this topic.
Fortunately there is a little salvation in this film.William Scott’s relationship with his little buddy is shockingly delightful. His child, played by Bobb’e J. Thompson, is quick witted, entertaining and incredibly vulgar. The chemistry between Thompson and William Scott is nothing short of charming.
Over the course of the film they go from enemies to close friends due to their mutual love for breasts. The jokes between these two are original and hilarious; it breaks the monotony of the film and keeps the audience from walking out due to boredom.
The film’s ending is also charming. A huge fantasy brawl breaks out in Mintz-Plasse’s fantasy role playing world. William Scott and Rudd show up to do battle with the two kids in full KISS attire. The group parades around claiming to be citizens of Kiss myanthia named cleverly for the band.
They battle as if they were in a real war using foam swords for upwards of 10 minutes of pure hilarity.
It closes the film well and although there are bits of sincere drama through out the movie the comedic closing serves to remind everyone they are watching a comedy.
All in all Role Models is a relatively cute film, but the occasional bits of sincerity and lack of originality ruin what could have been a classic comedy.