Role Models
2.5 Waffles!

Since we can’t always count on talking animals being funny (Thank you, Beverly Hills Chihuahua), maybe we can always count on foulmouthed kids being funny? OK, maybe I shouldn’t be rooting for something like that. Instead, let’s just say any movie with KISS is always funny (especially KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park).

Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star as Danny and Wheeler – the promotions team for an energy drink. They go from school to school combating alcohol abuse and drunk driving, while offering their company’s beverage as an alternative. One day, Danny is pushed to the edge when his girlfriend, Beth (Elizabeth Banks), turns down his marriage proposal, so he loses it, and gets himself and Wheeler arrested.

The two get a chance to avoid jail by participating in the judge’s favorite charity, Sturdy Wings. If they can complete 150 community service hours in a month, they will avoid 30 days in jail. Unfortunately, Danny has to mentor the world’s biggest nerd, Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse aka McLovin), and Wheeler has a foulmouthed, troublemaking young man, Ronnie (Bobb’e Thompson), who has never had a mentor last more than a few days.

Will Danny and Wheeler survive?

Are they on their way to jail?

Can they bond with these two kids?

Role Models is a movie full of funny moments, but it also tries to make you feel some sappy emotions with typical, predictable attempts at tugging on your heart strings.

Rudd’s reactions to everything make the movie good because most of the best moments in Role Models are flat out goofy and Rudd is the guy reacting to it for us. Thompson scores the most laughs due to the sheer outrageousness of what he says, while Jane Lynch gamely acts moronic for our benefit.

The goofy works when Role Models is outright goofy, but it strays too often into normal and traditional territory instead of remaining a total guy movie about guys acting stupid.

Role Models is Rated R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity.