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Role Models Starring Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Bobb'e J. Thompson and Elizabeth Banks Screenplay by Paul Rudd & David Wain & Ken Marino and Timothy Dowling Based on a story by Timothy Dowling and William Blake Herron Directed by David Wain website: www.rolemodelsmovie.com

IN SHORT: Very funny. Gee, another "f" word... [Rated R. ]

Cultural History according to Cranky (or, allow us a 'graph to vent): When (we) male kidlets are little, if their parents are paying attention, they get suitably punished for improper language. Yeah, that ol' "f" word again. Sure, nowadays the kidlets know and probably use the word by age ten but humor this old fart for a sec; When young adults get out of the house and free from parental oversight they "f" up a storm. That language usually stops once the male finds a love of his life, whether for a year or just a couple of hours, and she sets him straight. Finally, once you start raising your own kids, theoretically you start the cycle all over again.

Role Models, like most R rated comedies, gets its rating from a profusion of "f" words. 'Tis a shame because this film is one of the very unique comedies that is incredibly funny all on its own and would remain so if just about every obscenity had been clipped from the script. We're not being prudish about this. How you feel about this great comedy will vary depending upon which decade you are in. Of course, if you have a flat out aversion to any of George Carlin's mighty Seven Words, you probably aren't going to a film like Role Models anyway.

Cranky, just by luck of the draw, found himself sitting near a group of more than middle aged women at the sneak of Role Models. All giggled consistently. When they weren't giggling they were laughing out loud. So, for that matter, were the rest of us males. Role Models is a genuinely, very funny movie. It's also not dominated, as most of these films are, by a driving need to get sex. Yes, the drive is there. It just hangs back as great characters get their story arcs accomplished first.

Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott), are salesmen for a "Red Bull"-like energy drink called Minotaur (all caffeine and ginseng. Yum!) Danny's had the job ten years, driving from school to school corrupting America's youth with stories of the wonders of caffeine as an alternative to illegal drug use. While Danny makes the pitch, Wheeler prances around in a minotaur suit. As the story begins, the pair's Minotaur-mobile is about to get towed for parking in a No Parking zone. Given that the pair spend their day doing four or five events, losing the truck is going to lose 'em dates and, more importantly, money. What they do to get the truck back gets them busted and, thanks to the quick legal wrangling of Danny's ex-girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks), sentenced to 150 hours of community service instead of a month in jail. Why Beth is an ex is the last remaining subplot.

Community Service in this case means a "Big Brother" type program called "Sturdy Wings," whose ex-con director (Jane Lynch) nearly steals the show.  Danny is assigned to guide a 16-ish Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Augie is into role playing of the D&D mode. He's has sewn his own 15th century knight's tunic and has fashioned a foam sword to use for a Live Action Role Playing group, mainly a whole lotta nerds and geeks of all ages who dress forthcoming Event -- something like what you'd see at a Medieval Times restaurant (if you don't know, google it). Wheeler, on the other hand, finds himself at the mercy of a foul mouthed ten year old kid named Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) whose single mom (Nicole Randall Johnson) has pretty much allowed the kid free reign. That means he behaves for mommy and otherwise prides himself on the fact that no counselor has ever lasted more than a day with him.

And away we go . . .

Danny will learn that role playing can be fun. Augie may discover that, against all odds, there may be love for a geek. Ronnie will learn all about a rock 'n' roll band called KISS. Wheeler wears a minotaur costume. (That's not fair to Sean William Scott but, hey, we were laughing too darn much to write down anything).

Role Models is the kind of comedy that just points out a long held belief on our part that adding a big pile of "f" words isn't going to make a very funny movie any funnier. They just get in the way of a well written comedy with well developed characters and situations.

On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to Role Models, he would have paid . . .

$6.50

Add a buck if you're married or settled, sans kidlets. Add two if you're legal for R rated films. Add more if you successfully sneak in (you know who you are).

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