Spring Break
Ferrell improves mediocre Old School
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Last year this might have shocked me, but since I've lived in the Bradford I've become accustomed to the various misdemeanors of the Pike and WaWa brothers. However, the timing couldn't have been better; juxtaposed with Will Ferrell's own cottage-cheese ass, WaWa's little exposé made the humor in Old School considerably funnier by bringing an element of believability to the tale of the strangest fraternity ever.
Directed by Todd Phillips (Road Trip), Old School opens with real estate lawyer Mitch Martin (the always handsome Luke Wilson) getting an unexpected surprise from his sexually-liberated girlfriend, Heidi (Juliette Lewis). Suddenly single, the disenchanted Mitch moves into a house right next to his old college campus.
Sensing his need for a rebound, Mitch's friends come to his rescue. The wealthy Beanie (Vince Vaughn) sponsors a "Mitch-a-palooza" at his friend's new pad, inviting the whole campus to a wild night complete with Snoop Dogg and beer bongs. It turns out to be a liberating experience for both Mitch and their recently-married friend, Frank (SNL's Will Ferrell). Known in his college days as "Frank the Tank," he takes a few too many hits on the beer bong and ends up following in WaWa's footsteps.
The real shenanigans start the next day, when Beanie decides that Mitch is going to be godfather for a new equal-opportunity off-campus fraternity in an attempt to recapture the outrageous, irrepressible fun of their college years. Though initially reticent, Mitch soon finds himself directing 14 pledges in a "trust" game that involves rope, cinder blocks and the sacred fifth limb.
The rest of the movie chronicles the crazy pledging process for the eclectic Alpha Epsilon Omega wannabes, ranging from college students like the waddling oxymoron, Weensie, to 90-year-old Blue. Of course, there's the requisite love interest (Ellen Pompeo) and the requisite arch-nemesis (Jeremy Piven) thrown into the mix, but they are essentially marginalized, used only to create situations conducive to further drunken antics.
Let's be honest. Old School isn't going to make you think. You're not going to hear about it at the Oscars, or even the Peoples' Choice Awards. In fact, it's pretty likely that you'll forget about this movie by this time next year. While it is similar in form to the cult classic Animal House, Old School is not destined for the same distinction.
Why not? First, it resonates with a slightly different audience. Obviously, college students can appreciate the situational humor in both films. However, the thirtysomethings in Old School speak best to their peers, the frat boys who grew up but never quite matured, those who would love to replace their professional life with their fabled college adventures. While anyone can enjoy this film, it lacks the mass appeal that Animal House has for college-age students.
Also, the plot is really formulaic. It doesn't take a BME to figure out what's going to happen shortly after Frank's near-drowning incident, and I'm sure I won't be ruining any secrets when I reveal that Mitch gets the cute girl of his dreams. This formula system works only if the humor is fresh and the characters are memorable.
Which brings me to the final weakness: The characters and acting aren't anything special. Wilson is nice to look at, but seems altogether average. Vaughn elicits some laughs, but you won't be quoting him the next day. The pledges are flat character sketches, and the women in the film fade into the background. Without a doubt, Ferrell carries this movie. If not for him, I probably would have hated Old School. With him, I laughed until my sides hurt.
A quick disclaimer: If you haven't picked up on this yet, Old School peddles the sort of goofy, physical, bathroom humor that you find in Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey flicks. If you don't appreciate this brand of funny, don't bother with Old School. Also, this film is rated R for good reason; there's plenty of nudity and f-bombs, so don't bring your kid brother.
The verdict? Old School is good for some laughs, and I guarantee you'll love Ferrell. Now that he's left SNL, you probably need a fix anyways. If WaWa isn't enough drunken nakedness for you, then check out this movie. Just don't be surprised if you forget about it the next day.