FROM THE BUCKET REVIEWS ARCHIVE
Review: Old School
Danny Baldwin · Publication date unknown — likely 2003 (film opened Feb. 21; 2003 log records a later viewing)
Old School /
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 “
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.
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,
-Danny, Bucket Reviews