Don't You Forget About: Role Models

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

ROLE MODELS


WHAT it's about: When energy drink salesmen Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) interrupt the towing of their company car, driving it into a school statue, they're sent to do community work with Sturdy Wings, a Big Brothers Big Sisters type program. When Wheeler gets paired with Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) a.k.a. Chris Rock Jr. and Danny with live action role-player Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, better known as McLovin), things get hilarious.


WHO'S in it: Upcoming star of Wanderlust Paul Rudd and Goon's Seann William Scott, alongside Thompson, Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks, pre-Glee Jane Lynch and pre-Community Ken Jeong. Plus, for MADtv fans, Nicole Randall Johnson and Keegan-Michael Key!


WHEN IT CAME OUT: 2008


HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it: Chances are, you have heard of it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you'd forgotten about it. Some critics knocked it as childish and stupid, never fully living up to its potential. Possibly worst of all, an "Apatow imitation." Ouch. Personally, I find it way undervalued, even by those who thought it was "good."


WHY you need to watch it--immediately!

• By far, the strongest part of this movie is the chemistry of the cast. They completely riff off each other and come across as completely believable, like they really do hang out together off-screen, despite Rudd's and Thompson's age gap of 27 years.
• Although they work amazingly as a team, each actor is hilarious on his own: Thompson's one-liners, Scott's idiocy, Rudd's sarcasm and Mintz-Plasse's, well, dorkiness. Perfect blend, right?
• As I mentioned before, MADtv cast cameos! Although this was pre to MADtv's cancellation, I can't help but root for their always small appearances.
• It's charming. No really, it works itself out in a somewhat-cliché but kind of sweet way.
• It's a great follow-up for Mintz-Plasse after Superbad, giving him a shove into the film world and showing us that he's got a lot more promise.
• Paul Rudd is funny! I know I already mentioned the cast, but this deserves its own point. He's had a pretty bad run recently (see: Dinner for Schmucks, How Do You Know, Our Idiot Brother), but it's nice to be reminded of a better time in his career. And with Role Models writer-director David Wain and writer Ken Marino bringing us Wanderlust soon, here's hoping Rudd is back on track.