Role Models

Not all comedies have the ability to be heartfelt as they meander through their attack plan of jokes. In it’s conception, “Role Models” didn’t seem to be setting out to break this trend. As the comedy starring two previous film icons, Stifler from “American Pie” (Sean William Scott) and McLovin from “Superbad” (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), “Role Models” seemed doomed to repeat the jokes of the past.

As “Role Models” begins, we meet Wheeler (Scott) alongside his friend and co-worker, Danny (Paul Rudd). With a name that sounds like the demon child of Stifler, Wheeler is merely an adversary in a misdemeanor caused by Danny. When the two are sentenced to 150 hours of community service, they are unaware that they will find the task of mentoring kids to be much more disturbing than going to jail.

As Danny is paired with Augie Farks (Mintz-Plasse), its easy to see why the actor who played McLovin was chosen for the role. As the outcast kid who lives in an imaginary fantasy world of medieval fighting, the character of Augie allows Mintz-Plasse to step out of his McLovin role without fully leaving it. Meanwhile, Wheeler had his hands full with Ronnie; a young boy who has a vocabulary of four letter words. While both Wheeler and Danny meet their tiny companions with apathetic intentions, they soon find reason to adhere to the needs of the kids, especially since Danny was trying desperately to regain the trust of his girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks).

Eventually, “Role Models” was able to steer away from type-cast performances and expand on meaningful storytelling. While the film faltered with only mildly amusing jokes in the first half, they seemed more focused on setting up for a more rewarding closure. With much attention being placed on establishing a connection between the characters, “Role Models” conjures a plethora of laughs that hit home harder than your standard movie jokes.

“Role Models” might have started out simply as a vile potty-mouthed comedy that insulted nearly every assumed stereotype to its finish, but it’s culmination was welcomed with a heartwarming finale that didn’t forget to involve each of its rewarding characters.

Role Models

Rated R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity

Runtime: 99 min.

Starring: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Elizabeth Banks

Directed by David Wain