Role Models

The Plot: Wild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps (Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott) to enroll in a Big Brother program.

The Pros: Whenever you have people like David Wain writing, you're sure to have a few funny lines. That rule is not broken in Role Models, but it certainly is tested. Paul Rudd is his usual comedic character, a cynic stuck in a situation he'd rather not be a part of, and he performs acceptably. The surprise here is Sean William Scott, who manages to break out of his usual Stifler-esque persona and pull off some pretty good socially-awkward comedy. This was a very pleasant surprise, as I anticipated him being the weak link of the film. Christopher Mintz-Plasse also makes a slight behavioral departure from his "McLovin" character traits, but is not allowed too much leeway as his character is still a huge dork.

The Cons: There are a handful of jokes that just don't hit. If you've ever seen the short-lived show Stella, written by the group responsible for The Ten and Wet Hot American Summer, you can obtain a good approximation of the hit-to-miss joke ratio (as well as the writing style). Some sections of the writing seem contrived, the most aggregious of which is the plot. This is your standard buddy-buddy-white-guys-getting-into-trouble-only-to-have-their-lives-changed-by-undesired-circumstances charade. If this was written by any other team, the film would be a disaster.

The Bottom Line: Role Models is one of those films only worth watching because of the people involved. The story has been done a million times over, but the majority of the humor is satisfying and the acting is what it should be. Sean William Scott impressed me with his ability to perform admirably alongside Paul Rudd, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse did what he could with what he was given. All in all, if there's nothing else to do on a Saturday afternoon and you enjoy the David Wain style of comedy, check out Role Models. It won't hurt you.

The Score: 6 / 10