jimbo-53-186511 Two energy drinks reps Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) end up being enrolled in a Big Brother style program (in order to avoid prison) after they total their vehicle outside a school. The programme (run through a company called Sturdy Wings) involves Bigs (adults) mentoring Littles (kids) and the 2 men find their respective buddies challenging, but over time they soon begin to bond with them and a mutual respect gradually begins to develop...Revolving your narrative around 2 generally unlikeable individuals is always going to be a risky strategy; inevitably this will usually result in audiences reacting in 2 different ways - either they'll hate the protagonists or worse still won't care about them or anything that happens to them. The film skates this fine line all the way through; the protagonists are quite unlikeable, but evidence that they care about their buddies is highlighted at sporadic intervals throughout the film. This results in the film having a narrative that resembles a heart monitor; it goes up and down, up and down, up and down and so on. I've talked about Rudd and Scott's characters being unlikeable, but in retrospect that's probably a little unfair; Rudd's character is possibly a little bit easier to feel sympathy for; he hates his job and finds himself in a bit of a rut where he generally hates his existence and everyone around him - it's believable as I think that everyone feels a bit low at times. Him buddying up with L.A.I.R.E fanatic Augie was awkward at first, but it did give Danny something to focus his attention on and perhaps made him forget about his own problems - sure it's a little clichéd, but it isn't handled too badly here. Danny was a flawed person, but I didn't see him as a bad person and did find myself being able to relate to him. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Wheeler who really doesn't seem to care about anyone else but himself; this is made worse by the fact that he seems to get away with his misdemeanours with no repercussions. Sure he comes through in the end, but I did find his rather selfish and uncaring attitude a little off-putting.I think the really big nail in the coffin here is that it really isn't that funny; I thought the start of the film was good, but found it fell apart slightly when everything moved to Study Wings; in fact it's really left to Mintz-Plasse and Thompson to carry this aspect of the film as they get the best lines and are the funniest things about this film. After the impressive opener, Rudd and Scott kind of look all at sea in the latter aspects of the film although they do still have some funny moments from time to time.All in all, while Role Models isn't a complete waste of time it really isn't all that funny, but at the same time I can't entirely hate it because some heart and thought has been put into the film, but I don't believe that enough has been done to prevent it from being a below average film overall.FINAL NOTE; I would have given it a 5 out of 10, but it lost a star for that cringey final scence. Yuck!!

OneEightNine Media Not as funny as I was hoping. I stopped watching this about an hour into it. It just wasn't getting any better. Unfunny comedies are the worst because they just exist without serving a purpose. Simply waste of time and space in the grand collection of cinema. Void of meaning or even entertainment value. The nothingness of the human condition. Darn them. Darn them to heck. In other words, this film is forgettable and not even worth a review.

Chris Keen Absent acting. If it wasn't for Jane Lynch I'd have thought I was watching a elementary school play gone horribly wrong. Absent comedy. Sean William Scott (Wheeler) plays the exact same character he always plays: blubbery alcoholic (yet only sips 1-2 beers throughout entire movie?) that gets more kitty than a North Korean butcher--a tale as old as the Mt. Sianai tablets, yet shockingly even less intriguing. Paul Rudd (Danny) is the exact opposite: easily angered, wildly depressed over nothing and combative over stupid things such as an appropriate name for a coffee cup/size. Beth (played by Elizabeth Banks), who is Danny's wife in the movie, adds nothing. Oh ya, except that she also becomes Danny's and Wheeler's lawyer once Danny drives his pickup on top of a bull statue. Hilarious, I know.Next up are our two troubled kids in need: Christopher Mintz-Plasse (plays Augie) and Bobb'e J. Thompson (plays Ronnie). Augie is a teenager who is obsessed with LARP (Live Action Role Play) and literally walks the walk and talks the talk of a Dungeons and Dragons type-of-character. Ronnie is a foul-mouthed 5th grader that no one can seem to contain.Ultimately, Danny is marked up with Augie and Wheeler is marked up with Ronnie. Following that, worn-out settings (i.e. house parties, camping) and a rampage of monotonous comedy is flooded onto the viewer like a Jihadist during a water-boarding.I hope you're sitting down for the ending: Augie kisses the girl he's always had a crush on.Two stars for the magician guy during the LARP event (he had a 1.2 second scene--watch carefully or you might miss the movie's far and gone best scene).Like my title says: my yawn yawned.

willcundallreview Rating-7/10Role Models is a funny comedy and well acted by a funny cast which mixes humour and a heart warming backing to create what I think is an underrated film. A solid kind of good film this is worth a watch and with laughter to match you whilst watching then it is even more advisable. Here below is why I think this film is a good one.The story as said is funny yet warm and although is mostly humour of which can be sometimes very crude(mostly from Seann William Scott), it is still warm also and the ending as you may see is really quite happy and tender. It is fast comedy and things start straight away as you will see, the story is very simple but it works well enough anyway and you should laugh if at least not once, just go with the flow and have fun is all you need to like it, trust me it can be good.Paul Rudd in his ever comedic role is good in the main role with previously mentioned William Scott providing comedic cover in the supporting if not not shared main role. I particularly found the young actor Bobb'e J. Thompson who plays an orphan child as very funny and plays a cursing young boy who acts like he is 30 years old and a player. Elizabeth Banks brings rationality to the film and is just about the only serious character but she doesn't do anything to ruin the humour, it works along well.The script is the main part of the good humour used in this and is partly written by Paul Rudd as well as some others who contribute and make the script possibly the best thing about this entire film. One point when the directing of David Wain comes in is when they play this pretend fight game and the entire shot must have been very difficult to direct as so much goes on, the scene itself is hilarious by the way, and+ the scene has some great costumes as does many parts of the film so look out for them.It isn't the most solid comedy and not every joke is funny to be fair, most are I think but when they are not funny they are sometime in between funny jokes and so you laugh and then think "what was that" in two seconds. The acting isn't awesome and although Paul Rudd is experienced at this with such showings in Anchorman, he is the best comedic performer by far, William Scott is funny too though.I think most people who enjoy slightly crude humour will enjoy this and some people will have big laughs. If you are looking for a way more sophisticated comedy then this isn't for you but the movie isn't all comedy as I said it has a warm hearted feeling running through it and by the end(you will see what I mean),you feel the comedy has worked well and it end's nicely.So overall a 7/10 from me a solidly good film and a comedy I couldn't tell you to watch more actually. I would say if you just watch this through and in comedy mode if that makes any sense, then you will laugh at this and find the script is very smartly done. Some will like, some will not and I expect a rather mixed review on this.