School for Scoundrels (2006)

A young guy short on luck enrolls in a class to build confidence to help win over the girl of his dreams, which becomes complicated when it turns out his teacher has the same agenda.

Director:

Todd Phillips

Writers:

Todd Phillips (screenplay), Scot Armstrong (screenplay)

Stars:

Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Dr. P
Jon Heder	...	Roger Waddell
Jacinda Barrett	...	Amanda
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	Lesher
Sarah Silverman	...	Becky
David Cross	...	Ian
Matt Walsh	...	Walsh
Horatio Sanz	...	Diego
Todd Louiso	...	Eli
Jon Glaser	...	Ernie
Paul Scheer	...	Little Pete
Ben Stiller	...	Lonnie Radcliff
Luis Guzmán	...	Sergeant Moorehead
Dan Fogler	...	Zack
DeRay Davis	...	Bee Bee

Storyline

An unlucky meter reader enrolls in a confidence-building class so he can win the love of the girl of his dreams. The class turns out to be something quite different when it becomes clear to the young man that his professor has his sights set on the same girl.

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Plot Keywords:

low self esteem | mace spray | new york city | australian | assertion | 

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Taglines:

Too nice? Too honest? Too *you*? Help is on the way.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Billy Bob Thornton (Dr. P) and Jessica Stroup (Eli's wife) both appeared in The Informers (2008) two years after this film.

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Goofs

When Ian and Roger grab hot dogs and sit down, Ian's hot dog goes from being intact, to being 3/4 of a hot dog, then back to being intact.

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Quotes

Zack: [when Roger's beeper goes off] What is he, a pimp now?

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Alternate Versions

Home video release include the 'Unrated Ballbuster Edition' which is 8 minutes longer than the theatrical release. There is an alternative ending.That is only available on DVDs.

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Connections

Spoofs Fight Club (1999)

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Soundtracks

No More Mr. Nice Guy
Written by Alice Cooper and Michael Bruce

User Reviews

Fun and Very Funny, But an Old Formula

This is a fun movie that offers exactly what the previews promise and a little more. John Heder does a great job as does Billy Bob Thornton. The only drawback of the plot is that we've seen it a million times before if you watch this genre of movie. Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton) plays an overbearing and obnoxious school teacher teaching Roger (John Heder) and the other students how not to be wimps. The purpose of the course backfires when Roger finds out Dr. P does not like to be outdone. This movie could be compared to any comedy where the underdog must overcome the odds to win the girl. Regardless of the predictable plot, the comedy is clever and fun. This movie is worth seeing in the theater. The previews are faithful, but don't give away all of the humor. The humor is consistent throughout and it doesn't leave you tapping you fingers or looking at your watch.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Better Man

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,602,333, 1 October 2006

Gross USA:

$17,807,569

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$24,470,583

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Picked Last, Media Talent Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 108 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1