Paramount Pictures and Apatow Productions present a PG-13 rated, 102 minute comedy directed by Steven Brill and starring Owen Wilson (Drillbit Taylor), Leslie Mann (Lisa), Danny R. McBride (Don), Josh Peck (Ronnie), David Dorfman (Emmit), Troy Gentile (Ryan), Nate Hartley (Wade), Alex Frost (Filkins) and Valerie Tian (Brooke) along with a cast of extras, supporting characters and cameos.
What was your first day of high school like? For a skinny kid, Wade, and his chubby friend, Ryan, it was all but a bad experience. People say that others judge you by first expressions. At McKinley High School, it did not help that Ryan and Wade showed up dressed identically. The perfect target for the predator and prey scenario with Filkins, the high school bully playing the part of the lion stalking the two young gazelles.
Soon the two boys meet a third member to their pack when they attempt to pry Emmit from the grips of the evil Filkins and his sidekick, Ronnie. I guess when you’re as small as a hobbit you truly can fit in a pint size locker! Tired of being abused at school the three boys, fat, dork and awesome, otherwise known as skinny and lonely set out to save their lives. They go on a search for a bodyguard and throughout the search end up with a homeless man, Drillbit, who lives in the woods, showers naked on the beach and is wanted by the authorities for running away from his position with the military.
No more begging for money on the streets and eating food left on peoples plates and trying to get lucky with lottery tickets. Drillbit, along with some of his fellow clansman decide to scam the kids for their money, and family belongings. But feelings change and Drillbit tries to help the kids achieve their freedom from the bullies, make friends in school and overall kick butt bringing normalcy to an otherwise dreadful situation. He even helps Wade pursue the girl of is dreams, Brooke. Posing as a teacher in order to help the boys, Drillbit, even fulfills some of his own needs especially in room 220, thanks to a fellow teacher.
Albeit, for some life sometimes has a way of working out for the better even if not in a minor way. No regrets, no pinky and overall no Canada but in the end the truth will set you free and overall kick some butt.
This film was a delight and much better than I anticipated. An enjoyable, hysterical and somewhat violent story with some nudity, foul language, and sexual situations, all about life amongst teens trying to fit into today’s world. Well written with some great lines along with a good score and superb direction this film is sure to be a hit with the young demographic audience. Wilson was a breathe of fresh air in this film more so than his last several but still not a far cry from his regular character roles as a desperate man out to scam the world but in the long run finds he has a heart and a conscience. Peck and Frost were the perfect bullies that everyone feared in high school and dreamt that someday would face their ultimate fate, someone stronger and bigger than them. Frost was brilliant in this role making you want to kick his butt all along while laughing at the scenes in which he hazes the boys in a number of psychotic ways. But the film really belongs to Dorfman, Hartley, and Gentile, these young actors bring this film to life leaving their characters not only believable but likeable, making this film a must see at the box office for an audience of all ages.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.