Old School
The theatrical trailer for Old School gives the impression that the feature film will go down in college-comedy fame with the likes of Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds. Like a roommate who agrees to do his share of the cleaning but never does, this trailer makes promises without delivery. Old School, simply put, is disappointing and forgettable.
Mitch Martin (Luke Wilson) caught the early flight home to be with his lady, but he discovers that she is cheating on him . . . with two people at a time. Mitch moves into a new house, and his best friends Beanie and Frank the Tank (Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell, respectively) throw him a killer party.
Soon afterwards, Mitch learns that his new house is owned by the local college and is commissioned for scholastic purposes only. Beanie decides the best and only way to solve this problem is by starting a fraternity. This particular frat, however, won't be bothered with academics, athletics, or community outreach, nor will membership be limited to college students. Basically, this frat's only concern is partying. Mitch, Beanie, Frank, and the other frat brothers predictably find themselves at odds with the college's corrupt Dean Pritchard (ironically played by PCU's Jeremy Piven).
Old School offers a decent number of funny gags and jokes, but I expected more than what the director and screenwriters provided. The cast may have been part of the problem. Will Ferrell's humorous talent isn't effectively used. His only good scene is where he gets drunk, streaks through town, and is picked up by his new bride and her girlfriends. Most of Ferrell's scenes look promising but fall flat. After a career of playing supporting characters, Luke Wilson is miscast as the leading character in a crude comedy. There are other actors who would have fit the role of Mitch Martin better; for example, Van Wilder's Ryan Reynolds.
The one casting decision that works out well is Vince Vaughn, who is excellent in this movie. His previous work hasn't impressed me (yeah, I'll give Swingers another chance), but Beanie was my favorite character in the whole movie. Vaughn plays a successful speaker store owner/family man/critic of the marriage institution. Near the beginning of the film, Beanie is trying to persuade Frank to back out of his wedding during the middle of the ceremony. That was funny to me for some reason.
Before you readers start sending me e-mails requesting that I rewatch Old School, this time with my head out of my ass, and telling me I have no sense of humor, I'll kindly ask you to reread my Van Wilder and American Pie reviews. I eat comedies for breakfast, the cruder the better. Old School was just undercooked.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
This comedy centers on an uninhibited fraternity, so your lips better be sucking on a beer!
The leading male characters hold a pessimistic view of relationships. This is not a movie to watch with a potential life mate.
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