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Role Models (2008)

Release Date:
Friday, November 7, 2008

MPAA Rating:
R

Rating Reason:
For crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity

Genre:
Comedy

Starring:
Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Bobb'e J.Thompson, Elizabeth Banks

Written By:
David Wain, Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, Tim Dowling, W. Blake Herron

Director:
David Wain

Official Site:

Synopsis:
Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star in "Role Models" as Danny and Wheeler, two salesmen who trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 service hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn't look half bad.

Role Models (2008) | Review

Who's Your Big Brother?
Elisabeth Leitch

Content Image
Then there's Augee. One of the oldest kids in the Sturdy Wings program, Augee is a socially-awkward teen who lives to spend his days participating in the medieval role-play club LAIRE (Live Action Interactive Roleplay Experience). "This isn't reality. It's not the real world," says Danny when Augee first introduces him to the club. As Danny sees it, LAIRE, like everything else, is just another meaningless waste of time. That is until he sees how much it means to Augee.

LAIRE may not be real, but within the "games" they play are nuggets of value and purpose just as real as any others out there. Although Augee may be considered somewhat of an outcast at school and at home, in LAIRE, he belongs. On the battlefield, he is an accomplished warrior and respected kinsman. As he says, "Doing what I love, I have already won." And when Wheeler sees how much Augee truly loves and finds value in LAIRE, he suddenly recognizes that the most powerful ingredient in living a life of value may very well be in giving it his sincere effort and energy.

At the beginning of the movie, both Danny and Wheeler are focused on nothing more than what they are getting out of life for themselves. But by its end, the two men to whom we say goodbye are ones who recognize the value of putting others before themselves. When Danny is in danger, Wheeler sacrifices his "life" to save him. When Augee loses the only thing he loves, Danny risks his own freedom to help Augee get it back. And when Danny finally recognizes that there are aspects of his life that he does love, he's no longer afraid to give a bit of his dignity to prove it.

A comedy with heart, Role Models is a funny combination of a little bit of something for everyone. With Judd Apatow regulars Rudd and Lynch in tow, there is certainly your fair share of adult humor and laugh-out-loud on-liners. As per usual, Scott provides the film with a requisite amount of good looks and sex jokes. Channeling a bit more of his Friends persona than his Apatow one, Rudd makes the story sweet enough to satisfy at least a bit of a chick-flick craving. And with a story that kind of makes you want to jump into battle with them all, despite its often goofy absurdity, its message of friendship, value, and sacrifice is one that cannot but help you smile

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