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OLD SCHOOL
I came into Old School expecting the worst. I was dreading some
abominable mixture of Tomcats and National Lampoon's Van Wilder
- 90 minutes of shit jokes and woman hating, probably accompanied
by another godawful remix of "All Star" by Smashmouth,
aimed squarely at the drunken fratboys who steal their pledges'
copies of Maxim and use magic markers to draw penises on their Carmen
Electra posters.
Old School isn't that bad. It's actually pretty funny. The jokes
come at a rapid-fire pace and some of them are genuinely laugh-out-loud
hilarious. Will Farrell, late of Saturday Night Live, handles the
physical comedy while Vince Vaughn works as the acid-tongued manipulator
of events. Luke Wilson, laid back and affable as the lead, lets
the zaniness happen around him while he winces and smiles to let
us know he thinks this is all pretty weird too. Farrell goes for
broke in every scene, whether streaking down main street, getting
a dart stuck in his neck, or doing a ballet accompanied by the score
from Chariots of Fire. Vaughn hasn't been this sharp and funny since
Swingers, especially when he high-fives Farrell's new bride at their
wedding reception. The three of them have an easy comedic chemistry
together; we buy them as best friends and enjoy their shenanigans.
The three leads are ably assisted by a bevy of supporting players
that reads like a who's who (of what exactly, I'm not sure): Jeremy
Piven as the scumbag dean of the university, Seann William Scott,
wearing a Joe Dirt mullet, as a petting zoo wrangler, Terry O'Quinn
as Wilson's boss, Artie Lang as Wilson's co-worker, Andy Dick probably
not stretching his range as a blowjob instructor, Craig Kilborn
as an adulterous asshole, and the late Carl "Oldie" Olsen
as the oldest pledge in Wilson, Vaughn, and Farrell's fraternity.
Snoop Dogg and Warren G. also appear as themselves. Sadly, some
of these people could well end up as future cast members of the
WB's The Surreal Life
While Owen Wilson is the acknowledged funnyman of his family, Luke
seems to be the Wilson brother women prefer. Luke has three women
to contend with in Old School: Juliette Lewis as his ex-girlfriend
with the S&M secret life, the sultry-eyed Ellen Pompeo as the
girl he's interested in who is interested right back, and Elisha
Cuthbert from TV's 24 as a young hottie who is bad news in more
ways than one. Meanwhile, newlywed Farrell's marriage is crumbling
around him, while Vaughn keeps his newfound college life a secret
from his wife Leah Remini, from TV's King of Queens.
This is some cast, and director Todd Phillips (Road Trip) keeps
them busy, keeps the pace light, and keeps the jokes coming. There
is a plot in the movie, as Wilson, Vaughn, and Farrell must find
a way to legitimize their fraternity and keep their pledges from
being expelled from school, but it is really just a clothesline
from which to hang gag after gag. One of the best comes early in
the picture and involves the funniest wedding singer since Adam
Sandler.
Old School is breezy fun, but its big flaw is that it lacks substance.
Neither Wilson nor Farrell's subplots involving their respective
women create any genuine feeling of emotion. I didn't much care
whether or not Farrell could reconcile with his wife, nor did Wilson's
ending up with Pompeo surprise anyone in the theatre, despite the
by-the-numbers misunderstanding that kept them apart until the final
scene. I didn't sympathize or empathize with any of the characters,
I didn't believe any of them were in any physical or emotional jeopardy,
and the outcomes of any of their problems were never in doubt. This
is especially true in Farrell's case; he suffers some painful physical
maladies as the result of his buffoonery, but is fine and dandy
in the next scene as if he were Wile E. Coyote. Old School could
have tried for more, but was happy to simply get laughs.
Ultimately, comedies like Old School are not reliant on story or
character. Wilson, Farrell, Vaughn, and Pompeo are likeable enough.
The jokes are funny. There is a welcome absence of shit and fart
jokes (some bare male ass, especially Will Farrell's and a fat black
guy stuck in a manhole is about the worst it gets). The women are
hot and there's some nudity to keep the guys happy. Old School has
enough laughs to please most anyone looking for an amusing diversion
at their local multiplex. Compared to similar comedies in the last
few years, Old School is at the head of the class.
- John Orquiola (reviewed 2/6/2003)
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