It’s stupid, it’s lame, it’s conceited, it’s poignant,
but it’s hilarious; it’s Old School. After
laughing so many times at so many different fresh jokes,
I won’t even attempt to lie to you, to maintain any sort
of “critical status.” I loved this movie. The direction
is literally perfect, the comically enlightening
performances from each of the actors are brilliant, and
the script is ingeniously written. This is probably one
of the stupidest films I’ve seen in the last five years,
but it’s also one of the funniest. Old School
will live under the title of “it’s so bad, it’s
ironically good” for days to come. It is an
extravagantly colorful, but quite crude, glorious riot.
Mitch Martin (Luke Wilson) is a man, tired with life. He
has just ditched his long-time girlfriend, after walking
in on her and a few others, just seconds before an “orgy
party.” Mitch’s friend, Beanie (Vince Vaughn), is a
carelessly crazy parent. Before he is about to swear, or
make another derogatory reference, he tells his child to
put on his “earmuffs.” Mitch and Beanie’s long-time
buddy, Frank (Will Ferrell), is a recently married fool.
He, also, is very innerving for his shamelessly stirred
wife to handle. After Mitch and his girlfriend seal the
break-up deal, he moves into an old professor’s house,
only blocks away from the local college. Parties,
lights, and merchandise from “Speaker
City,”
Beanie’s company, ensue.
As the three men, or more accurately put, boys, huddle
around this house, they are desperately in need of a
fun-filled hobby. Two of them are out-of-work, the
other, the owner of an about-to-crash-and-burn business.
In seek of some huge entertainment, one night, when
Mitch and Frank are out, Beanie decides to surprise
them. To abide by the zoning laws of college down the
road, the men must use Mitch’s house, at least
part-time, to house a school-related activity. So, in
wake of this, he organizes a fraturnity; in which young
and old alike, are created equal. When Mitch walks in
the door of his new home, and sees tons of kids (and
kids-at-heart) planning foolish stunts, he isn’t happy.
After finally coming around, however, this futurity is
quite the glorious experience. But now, these men,
united, have bigger problems to face. The school isn’t
nearly ready to allow their obnoxious practices
(streaking, stunts, parties, etc.), as a grouping.
The performances from Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and
Vince Vaughn are stunningly outrageous. Ferrell, as seen
on Saturday Night Live, outdoes the rest of the cast.
Though his character is probably the least thought out
of the script, each and every emotion and line of
dialogue of his is made funny, by this established
comedian.
Wilson,
taking after his brother, Luke, lays down the importance
of the script. While he has some of his own cracks,
Wilson
is excellent at setting up the many jokes, for Ferrell
to act on. Vaughn is outstanding as the always comical
Beanie; a naturally funny actor for an exuberantly wild
character. The entire ensemble is extravagantly rockin’!
There are endless complements I can pay to the wonderful
cast.
Todd Phillips, who also made Road Trip,
directs Old School into near perfection (erhm….well…close
to it). Unlike most filmmakers, who usually head this
type of ridiculous movie, Phillips actually spices the
film up with a few camera tricks. I can appreciate this
tremendously, because it makes the comedy much easier on
us to watch. When the shots in a flick, similar to
Old School, are jarred and over-done, it
flushes the entire picture down the toilet. Phillips is
steady and subtle in making this film, but still stuffs
in a few treats for us, which is appreciable. This is
probably the closest the movie industry will come to
making another National Lampoon’s Animal House,
for a while. It is both hilarious and respectable.
Involving, entertaining, and comical to watch;
Old School is the best film I have seen so far this
year (which really isn’t saying much). It is beautifully
highlighted by the nicely done direction by Todd
Phillips, great performances by Ferrell,
Wilson,
and Vaughn, and excellently written jokes. The quote I
posed at the beginning of this review: “It’s stupid,
it’s lame, it’s conceited, it’s poignant, but it’s
hilarious; it’s Old School,” still stands,
and remains my best recommendation. If you’re one to
like stupid and loud, but funny movies, this is one for
you.
-Danny, Bucket Reviews