PETER HAMILTON
Staff Writer
“School for Scoundrels” is a failed attempt to take a somewhat clever idea for a film and make it funny. For those who enjoy poor acting, writing and a slew of clichéd lines in second-rate comedies, then this film is definitely for you.
Directed and written by Todd Phillips (“Road Trip,” “Old School”) with the help of Scott Armstrong (“Starsky and Hutch,” “Old School”), this movie has a hard time getting any momentum. Surprisingly, for a film written and directed by the “Old School” duo, the script was sorely unimpressive. Unlike Will Ferrell’s blockbuster, which is arguably one of the funniest movies in recent time, “School For Scoundrels” has no similar impact. There are numerous lines and scenes from “Old School” that instantly became classic pieces of comedy, but after one sees “School for Scoundrels,” it is difficult to remember anything even remotely funny.
One of the film’s main characters, Roger — unsurprisingly played by John Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite”) — is a self-conscious meter maid, who is sick of the way his life has turned out. He joins a kind of top-secret, underground school that is supposed to teach him to be a real man and conquer the world around him. The more he is instructed, the more suave he apparently becomes. Yet, unlike Napoleon, where Heder’s character fits his persona perfectly, in “School for Scoundrels” he has a very hard time evolving into a character of confidence and masculinity. By the end of the film, the viewer is not convinced that Heder has changed at all from the dorky meter maid he was in the beginning to when he is supposedly a sophisticated charmer. To add insult to injury, his acting is painfully poor, and when he tries to be an intelligent tough guy, he is very hard to take seriously.
While there are a few funny scenes, such as a class paintball game, it certainly does not make up for the choppy story line. The characters are placed in situations that are so ridiculous that it becomes hard for anyone to follow. The plot of good guy gets the girl is effective if it is done well, but if not executed the right way it just becomes boring.
However, the directors must have went to film school because all the technical aspects of the actual production of the film, such as the editing, the lighting, and the score and soundtrack, are done well.
Roger’s teacher, Dr. P — played by Billy Bob Thornton (“Bad Santa,” “Bad News Bears”) — is a foul-mouthed tough guy who interprets life in a purely dog-eat-dog manner. He quickly acknowledges Roger as his best student and, in a strange attempt to make Roger a stronger man, tries to steal away his new girlfriend, Amanda, played by Jacinda Barrett(“The Last Kiss”).
The ideals he teaches in the film seem to be just a recycled version of similar ideals found in “Fight Club,” with such instructions like never be sorry for anything and create confrontation with someone on the street. Unlike the clever themes found in “Fight Club,” “School for Scoundrels” has been dumbed down to appease junior-high schoolers. Although Thornton plays his part as Dr. P very well, it is no different than just about every other role he usually plays.
Amanda is Rogers’ neighbor and love interest, and she may be the only redeemable factor in this movie. Her sweet personality and cute persona make the scenes she is in somewhat enjoyable. Yet, it is not quite clear why she would have even an inkling of attraction to Roger. The idea of why she likes him is ambiguous throughout the film.
All in all, “School for Scoundrels” is just a pathetic, disappointing movie. It has little redeeming value, and it is not impressive. Is it the worst movie ever? No, but it is not a movie that is likely to be watched again.
10-05-2006
