As far as raunchy comedies go, Role Models"" may not head the list, but it is definitely up there. From writer/director David Wain (""Wet Hot American Summer,"" ""The State""), the movie offers a large amount of laughs that gives Wain more ammunition as the only serious competition for Judd Apatow.
Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) are co-workers who travel to elementary schools to promote an anti-drug message while also shilling out Minotaur energy drinks. Danny feels he is wasting his life away, and after getting dumped by his lawyer girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks), he causes some serious damage to the company vehicle that lands the duo with 150 hours of community service. They are then forced to mentor two troubled kids - supernerd Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, better known as McLovin from ""Superbad"") and foulmouthed, 10-year-old Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson).
Although any movie could be carried solely on the back of Paul Rudd's sarcasm, the rest of the cast steals the spotlight, specifically Jane Lynch (""The 40 Year Old Virgin,"" ""Best In Show""), who offers almost all of the memorable lines in the movie (""You know what I used to have for breakfast? Cocaine. Know what I used to have for lunch? Cocaine""). Not to be outdone is a healthy assortment of David Wain regulars, such as Ken Marino, Kerri Kenney-Silver, A.D. Miles, Joe Lo Truglio and Matt Walsh.
The plot is extremely predictable, so all the entertainment comes from the main cast. Elizabeth Banks spends far too little time on screen (she was too busy, presumably, starring in every other movie this year), but when she does appear, she plays the perfect ""straight-arrow"" character opposite Rudd.
Although Scott and Mintz-Plasse both carry the stigma of their most well-known roles, each is still entertaining and lovable as characters similar to Stiffler and McLovin. And considering almost the entire cast comes from either the universe of Judd Apatow or the cast of ""The State,"" outsider Scott fits in perfectly.
For those who saw the lame previews and assumed the movie would be a family-friendly comedy, take note of the R rating. Dick jokes, swear words (mostly from a 10-year-old's mouth) and, thank God, gratuitous nudity abound, so if you plan on taking your toddler to what you assume is the next ""Bad News Bears,"" for the sake of innocence, don't. And if you are worried that the movie won't approach the offensive comedy of past hits like ""Superbad,"" you'll be disgustingly surprised within the first two minutes (hint: it involves smelly fingers).
The movie sags around its middle when it becomes obvious where everything is going to end up, but its third act is so ridiculously hilarious that it approaches brilliance. The twists and turns in the plot are straight out of the Screenwriters' Handbook, but resolving the conflict with a massive battle between nerds wielding foam swords is definitely a highly enjoyable break from convention.
If there is a moral to the film, it is that even the most conventional of plots can become entertaining with the ad-libs of an extremely talented cast.
Grade: B
