Review of Role Models (2008) by Chris W — 14 Jul 2011

This wasn't quite as awesome as I was hoping it would be, but it is nonetheless a very funny and quite solid film, even if it is rather predictable. I mean come on, any film that has major plot point involving Kiss and the world of LARPing deserves some credit. I'm not into LARPing and Kiss are just okay in my eyes, but still.

I felt, like many people I'm sure, that the real highlight here is the scene-stealer that is Bobb'e J. Thompson. Kids swearing is already inherently funny and and entertaining, but this kid just knocks it out of the park. This film is for him what Superbad was for his co-star Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Both are really good here, as are their adult counterparts played by Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. I like both of those guys, and they both have good chemistry with one another and the kids. Matching Thompson for scene-stealingness is Jane Lynch-I don't watch or care about Glee, but I love that woman, and any film that features her automatically gets poitns in my book. I like Elizabeth Banks as well, even though she could have been used more.

There's plenty of other awesome people here, and, even though I only really had maybe one or two gut-busters of laughter, I was at least smiling for about 90% of the time. Plus, like I said, the nods to nerd and rock culture were well done.

Give this one a shot. It's rude, crude, and ridiculous, but it has tons of heart and is a great way to spend about 99 minutes of time.