‘Role Models’ a good dumb comedy

Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd) and his best buddy Wheeler (Seann William Scott) work for an energy drink company, touting a noxious brew called Minotaur to school children.

Fri, 08 May, 2009 - 20:58

Cert 15

97 mins

Comedy

Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd) and his best buddy Wheeler (Seann William Scott) work for an energy drink company, touting a noxious brew called Minotaur to school children.

After an unfortunate altercation, they are sentenced to 150 hours community service and reluctantly head for the Sturdy Wings mentoring programme run by reformed addict, Gayle Sweeny (Jane Lynch).

She assigns Danny and Wheeler a troubled kid apiece — fantasy role-playing game obsessive Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and foul-mouthed 10-year-old Ronnie (Bobbie J Thompson) — and instructs the men to use their allotted time to get to know the boys and bring them out of their shells.

Very gradually, Danny and Wheeler connect with the youngsters and help them to cope with their feelings.

Role Models isn’t big, it certainly isn’t clever, but it does have undeniable charm and some terrific one-liners as it extols the virtues of fraternal love.

Star Rating: 3/5.