Hey folks, Harry here... Well then, this OLD SCHOOL sounds like quite a good movie... it has a great cast and I'm looking forward to getting to see it, and actually the other two films sound like they're worth checking out too. Here ya go...
Hey then,
Dig the site. I have written for you a few times in the past and now I feel the need to render my (mostly favorable) reviews of one film coming in the future, and a few in a state of limbo. Lets start chronologically, shall we? Starting with a few indie-pics and leading up to a really entertaining flick--OLD SCHOOL (Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaugn).
--I'll begin with a movie I saw many months ago, but have yet to hear anything since. It's a nice, quaint little marijuana-flick then (and maybe now) titled ROLLING KANSAS. It stars a bunch of relatively unknown college-age kids (for instance--the fast food worker in Super Troopers). These young adults are, "in dire need of some cash" (whats that line from), and decide to take part in a journey to a magical forest of weed located in Kansas. Along the way, they encounter trouble, a sage-like Rip Torn (in an odd, but amusing role), happiness, and in the end, they all find something out about themselves. The director, Thomas Haden Church (Lowell from the tv show "Wings") and Kevin Pollack make for some of the funniest moments as two federal agents who confront the kids. Now, he film was a definite rough-cut, so I feel it unnecesary to criticize a few pacing issues which I hope will be resolved. And the music was temporary I believe. And here is an important feature. They need a great soundtrack to really kick this picture into high-gear. As of now it's fair, but a road-trip movie needs a kickass soundtrack. All in all it was amusing, and could be made a lot better with a few kickass songs.
--Moving on, I'll now speak of a film which I never heard of going into the screening, and haven't heard of since I left the screening. It's a shame too, for it's a very smart movie (a trait that isn't employed as much as it should in movies today). It's entitled DEAN QUIXOTE. It attempts to pose as a romantic-comedy, and I guess that's reasonable. It has both romance and some very funny comedy. But, still it seems to damn smart for such a category (no offense Ephron fans). It follows Dean (a respectable Brian Poth) as he takes part in his quest of self-discovery. He hasn't had much luck with the ladies or his career, and if I remember correctly, he begins to question everything in life. This is where the brains come in. Sometimes a little too much brains actually. The dialogue got thick in parts, but at least you could tell it was trying to be great. I shouldn't say too much about this film, because I don't recall many of the details. But I do recommend it. Merely for the fact that it was something original in a some-what unoriginal time. Oh, I should also give praise to the buddy of Dean, Guy (Simon Billig), for he stole his fair share of scenes.
--And now, the main event. The very film that couldn't stop entertaining if it tried--OLD SCHOOL. Shit, I really sounded like a plant just then. Despite that, it's about three thirty-somethings who attempt to regain a certain freedom that has been missing since their college days, and by reliving past glories they...blah, blah, blah. I'm not saying that it's boring, it's just that I could more easily describe the film as your run-o-the-mill college comedy. Parties, naked-sorority sisters (very hot, naked, and oily, sorority girls mind you) a tight-ass dean (played nicely by THE Jeremy Piven) fun times, and, well...plenty of hijinks. Now why is such a run-of-the mill movie so damned funny? I have a three-pronged answer for you all. Get ready. One: the direction. The director, Todd Phillips, knows how to pace his comedy, further illustrated by another great college flick he directed, ROAD TRIP (a movie I enjoyed more than it's pastry-humping contemporary, American Pie). Now, the second great reason this film succeeds so nicely lies in the premise. By making a college comedy starring thirty-somethings it opens up a floodgate of truly original comedic ideas. These ideas would not have been a success, however, without the third reason this film was so damned great: the stellar cast. I'll begin with the leads.
Luke Wilson: He did a damn fine job with his role, that of the main character. It's tough playing the straight-man in a comedy, and he proves the straight-man can steal scenes with the rest of them. His sense of comedic timing helps bring some flatlining dialogue back to life. You can imagine how funny it must have been to grow up with the Wilson brothers (or Dignan and Anthony, as I like to call them). Moving on.
Vince Vaugn: Never doubt this man's comic ability. Just don't do it. His delivery is tops. He SPEAKS with his words. I know that may not appear to make much sense, but his words appear to seek out and find the perfect place to settle in each conversation. Like I said, just tops. Moving on.
Will Ferrell: I really appreciate how Phillips was finally able to capitalize on Ferrell's unique comedy. Sure his "Mustafa" was funny, and he was great in JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, but he has elevated himself to a new level of humor. Such a level that I feel the need to write him a mythical origin story that will attempt to explain his genius. Here we go..."Forged in the depths of emotion, one man rose to greatness. Wielding a fierce ability to dramatically switch emotions at the drop of a...laugh? Comedy is born. Ferrell, the timid husband, conquered the boredom. Ferrell, the drunken maniac, entertained the masses. Yet Ferrell, riding a tranquilizer-induced high, stole my heart. Heros get remembered, but legends never die."---Excuse me. I get a bit preachy when it comes to the funny. Cliff's Notes: He was good, really good.
As for the rest of the cast, they were also good. Wilson's love interest (Ellen Pompeo) was quite nice, in a Rene Zellweger sort of way. The frat bros were all entertaining. Various Daily Show members/alum pop up in nice little scenes. And Margaret Yang (Sara Tanaka) even had a part, so that was nice. Oh, I also like the acting of the breasts in this film, though they didn't get as much screen-time as I would have liked, they stole each and every scene. Just oozing charisma. They all have futures in this industry. Or another related industry.
NOw, bear in mind, this is just a review. The last thing I want is for my praise to hype the movie to a level that can only end in disapointement. But, I do believe that someone who enjoys any of the following will enjoy this film: Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, Vince Vaugn, ROAD TRIP, or breasts.
I'll sum up by saying exactly what I mustered up the courage to say to the director at the end of the screening..."Well done." Not that he cares, or it means much, coming from a common, no-good, half-cocked...
GOONDOCK SAINT
