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There are those supporting players who never get the rub of
the green but slowly but surely (and maybe due to economic reasons) the
supporting players are having there day in the sun. One, Richard
Jenkins, garnered an Oscar nomination for his emotive central figure in
'The Visitor', and comedy's go to back-up, Paul Rudd is having his
moment. This the first of two films with him in the leading role is
co-written by the man who has made the comic relief his own in 'The
Forty-Year Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up', but can he sustain it for a
full feature length film, where he is not the release but the reason. Role Models tells the story of Danny Donahue (Rudd) a salesman for a low-market energy drink and his friend Wheeler (Seann William Scott, familiar winning form) who dresses as the drink mascot that they try to pedal to high school youngsters. Danny is in a long-term relationship with Beth (Elizabeth Banks; so important she has no surname) but when he needs money and starts pushing her away; he goes on an energy drink bender and assaults a tow-truck driver. The court gives them two choices: jail or 150 hours of community service at Big Wings, a big-brother mentorship scheme. The scheme is run by Gayle Sweeney (Jane Lynch) who used to be a con but has seen the light. The guys are assigned to two misfits who never grow or enjoy support; Danny with Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, 'McLovin'), a 16-year old who lives in a fantasy role-playing world full of knights, dragons and chivalry; while Wheeler gets Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) a foul mouthed 10 year old who has never had a father figure. Both guys hate it at first, and Danny is distracted by regaining Beth's trust at first while Wheeler treats Ronnie as a pet; neither take it seriously until they realise that the hours and opportunities are falling away from them. There is cheap laughs at the size of the boys but it is there unusual characteristics that help the two leads develop as themes of family and togetherness grow; and there is a sweetness to the film that has been missing from American films recently - a smart mouth but sentimental heart, because the overall big scene of role-playing battle is treated with the upmost respect;these people are around and 'geekdom' has a place. When Augie needs a new country after being banished for lying, the creation of their Kiss-themed country and the make up provides the biggest laugh of the whole film as the worst Kiss tribute act walks in slow-mo to take part in the battle. You end up routing for the geeks, as they are the winners. Danny admits he is not the best but if he can achieve this via Augie he has achieved something. Wheeler is just another extension of the Stifler persona for Scott but it pays off when cranked up to the right volume and in young Thompson he has a partner ('You see Ronnie, he's taking about his penis.') The finale is a triumph for scriptwriting and caring for characters, it will make you laugh out loud on numerous occasions and will keep a smile on your face. Role Model, the perfect model for a mainstream comedy. Rudd succeeds in achieving his goal, I just hope he does not drop the ball in 'I Love You, Man'. Recommended Released on DVD/Blu-Ray on Monday 11th May by Universal.
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