1:54pm Tuesday 17th February 2009
By Mark Foker
Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) work together for an energy drink company and they tour local schools in their Minotaur branded 4 x 4. Danny is the suited front man preaching that ‘drugs are bad Mmmokay!’ but sells the virtues of Minotaur energy health drink while Wheeler prances around dressed in the Minotaur suit.
Wheeler seems quite content to continue spending his time wearing horns and seems to be a bit of a local hero to some of the junior members of the company. While Danny is becoming more and more frustrated going nowhere with his life and dead end job. Despite this he still manages to be in a relationship (only just) with an attractive girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks from ‘40 Year- Old Virgin’ and ‘Scrubs’).
Danny finally reaches breaking point and gets drunk on the job, causes some property damage and then ultimately landing him and the innocent Wheeler in trouble with the police. By a stroke of luck Beth happens to be a good lawyer and manages to reduce a jail sentence to 150 hours of community service working for the ‘Sturdy Wings’ foundation as mentors for kids with some unusual behaviour traits.
The schools governor Gayle Sweeny is a reformed druggy played by Jane Lynch another cast member of ‘40 Year-Old Virgin’ who more or less reprises her role. Danny is paired up as Role Model for Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, McLovin from ‘Superbad’ who practically steals the show) who is totally obsessed by his involvement in medieval role play which introduces us to a cast of ‘grown-up’ fantasy fanatics.
Poor wheeler is teamed with little Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson) an extremely foul mouthed minor with attitude.
Now this film could have easily falling victim to the ‘same old, same old’ seen it all before crude innuendo teen movie. What sets it apart from the usual toilet humour is the sharp and witty script which was co-written by Paul Rudd and David Wain. Although, I must come clean and admit that there is still a little bit of ‘Stifler’ in the ‘Wheeler’ character especially after Ronnie has confessed how much he likes boobies and Wheeler introduces him to the sexually aware lyrics of his rock heroes ‘Kiss’. This is a step towards Wheeler gaining Ronnie’s respect.
The film was also educational. I learnt a new phrase ‘whispering eye’ I bet you’ll be using it when you’re down the pub with your mates?
I must admit this did make me laugh which is quite a feat in this day and age. Another Foker recommendation.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/trade_directory/