Role Models sets a good example

You’d be forgiven if you skip the new Paul Rudd/Seann William Scott flick Role Models. Judging by the trailer alone, it looks like just another boneheaded Hollywood buddy comedy. Which it is. Kind of.

Its premise may not be original (think The Bad News Bears or The Mighty Ducks without the sports), and yes, the jokes are unnecessarily crude, but Role Models is far more intelligent than it looks at first glance. In fact, it happens to be one of the better American comedies released this year.

Director David Wain’s third feature after 2001′s underappreciated Wet Hot American Summer and last year’s clever The Ten, Role Models works due to excellent casting and an abundance of comedic talent. Most crucial to its success is the inspired pairing of Scott and Rudd, which should draw two types of audiences - younger fans expecting the brash perversion of Scott’s “Stifler” character from American Pie, and devotees of the subtler Rudd witticisms sprinkled throughout Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Knocked Up.

Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Rudd) are energy drink salesmen who peddle peddling their liquid garbage to  underage consumers at local schools. When Danny is dumped by his lawyer girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks), his public meltdown leads to a 30-day prison sentence. That is, until Beth convinces the judge to give them community service instead, forcing the two to enter the Sturdy Wings program, led by ex-addict Gayle (Jane Lynch). Wheeler is assigned to help Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson), a hyperactive, racist 10-year-old, and Danny gets the painfully geeky Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse).    

Scott is essentially the same weaselly jackass he played in Road Trip and the American Pie movies, but typecast or not, his character here is far more likable. And Rudd is a perfect choice to carry a light movie like this. He’s already given ample support to the most bankable comedic actors currently working in Hollywood (Ferrell, Carell, Rogen) and held his own with all of them, so it’s only natural that he takes the step up to leading man. Elsewhere, Lynch’s surly ”no b.s.” diatribes are hilarious, as are small parts by Joe Lo Truglio as a LARP (that’s Live Action Role Playing) minion, Ken Jeong as the LARP king, and A.D. Miles as a perennial do-gooder.

Of course, the movie makes no concessions toward high art, but Wain and his revolving cast of cohorts (including Rudd and bit players Ken Marino, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Miles and Lo Truglio) have hit on a  lovable blend of subtle parody and screwball nonsense. As such, Role Models is a dumb comedy for smart people. Or maybe a smart comedy for dumb people. Either way you look at it, it’s just as satisfying.