Role Models (2008)

Wild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program.

Director:

David Wain

Writers:

Timothy Dowling (story), W. Blake Herron (story) (as William Blake Herron)

Stars:

Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Seann William Scott	...	Wheeler
Paul Rudd	...	Danny
Christopher Mintz-Plasse	...	Augie
Bobb'e J. Thompson	...	Ronnie
Elizabeth Banks	...	Beth
Jane Lynch	...	Sweeny
Ken Jeong	...	King Argotron
Ken Marino	...	Jim Stansel
Kerri Kenney	...	Lynette (as Kerri Kenney-Silver)
A.D. Miles	...	Martin
Joe Lo Truglio	...	Kuzzik
Matt Walsh	...	Davith of Glencracken
Nicole Randall Johnson	...	Karen
Alexandra Stamler	...	Esplen (as Allie Stamler)
Carly Craig	...	Connie

Storyline

Danny and Wheeler, well into their 30s, lack something: Danny feels stuck; he's sour and has driven away his terrific girlfriend. Wheeler chases any skirt he sees for empty sex. When they get in a fight with a tow-truck driver, they choose community service over jail and are assigned to be big brothers - Danny to Augie, a geek who loves to LARP (Live Action Role Play), and Wheeler to Ronnie, a pint-size foul-mouthed kid. After a rocky start, things start to go well until both Danny and Wheeler make big mistakes. Can the two men figure out how to change enough to be role models to the boys?

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Plot Keywords:

penis | community service | oral sex | female frontal nudity | reference to dungeons and dragons the game | 

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Taglines:

Danny and Wheeler were just sentenced to 150 hours mentoring kids. Worst idea ever.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Brothers

Filming Locations:

2800 Donald Douglas Loop North, Santa Monica, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,167,085, 9 November 2008

Gross USA:

$67,294,270

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$92,380,927

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Stuber/Parent

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 101 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

King Argotron's shield is the Matheson Clan shield.

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Goofs

In the beginning when they are in the minotaur shaped car going from school to school promoting minotaur energy drinks, Wheeler has his helmet off which switches from being in his lap to the back of the car when switching angle views.

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Quotes

Danny: Can I get a large black coffee?
Barista: A what?
Danny: Large black coffee.
Barista: Do you mean a venti?
Danny: No, I mean a large.
Barista: Venti is large.
Danny: No, venti is twenty. Large is large. In fact, tall is large and grande is Spanish for large. Venti is the only one that doesn't mean large. It's also the only one that's Italian. Congratulations, you're stupid in three languages.
Barista: A venti is a large coffee.
Danny: Really? Says who? Fellini? Do you accept lira or is it all euros now?

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Crazy Credits

Halfway through the end credits, we cut back to Gayle Sweeny repeating her suggestive use of a hot-dog toward Jim Stansel (continuously pushes the end out of its bun while he sticks it back in).

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Alternate Versions

Unrated Version Includes 8 cuts and 2 using alternative footage, total difference is 2:12 min.

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Connections

Referenced in Conan: The Douche Who Lost His Bag (2012)

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Soundtracks

Love Gun
Written by Paul Stanley
Performed by KISS
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Suck it Reindeer Games!

Role Models is directed by David Wain who also collectively writes the screenplay with Timothy Dowling, Paul Rudd and Ken Marino. It stars Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobbi'e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks and Jane Lynch. Music is by Craig Wedren and cinematography by Russ T. Alsobrook.

Two energy drink salesmen (Rudd and Scott) are ordered to perform 150 hours of community service as punishment for an offence that occurred when their company vehicle was about to be towed. For their service, the two men work at a program called Sturdy Wings that is designed to pair kids with adult role models.

Personally I avoided it until now because it just sounded like another lame American bawdy comedy about two slacker dudes who create chaos and then grow up by the end credits. This in spite of the fact that I rate Rudd highly and have often found Scott watchable in small doses. As it happens, the film follows the standard formula of plotting but rises above it with funny dialogue, a commitment to its characters and an avoidance of the sort of treacle thick sentimentality that is out of place in this type of comedy. It's also expertly performed by the cast, with the youngsters doing their shift admirably.

Yep, there's adherence to poignancy and type, while the odd scene just comes off as being too smug and clever. But there's so much fun to be had here it doesn't hurt the film, it's a true pick me up if you are feeling down, a splendid case of a cast finding chemistry across the board and delivering on the promise of the zippy script. 8/10