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Jeff reviews:

Old School

Feb. 21, 2003
2003, 1 hr 30 min., Rated R for some strong sexual content, nudity and language.�Dir: Todd Phillips. Cast: Luke Wilson (Mitch Martin), Will Ferrell (Frank), Vince Vaughn (Beanie), Ellen Pompeo (Nicole), Craig Kilborn (Mark), Perrey Reeves (Marissa), Juliette Lewis (Heidi), Leah Remini (Lara), Elisha Cuthbert (Darcie), Jeremy Piven (Dean Pritchard).

Every once in a while, a grown male needs to see a movie that proves maturity is largely overrated. Today, that movie is Old School.

Often-times hilariously juvenile, and as long as you go in expecting that (and who won't?), you'll laugh out loud quite a few times, and not just from the stuff you've already seen in the trailers.

What makes it better than you'd expect is that it relishes the fun. There's cheap humor, smart humor, and, of course, unnecessary nudity.

Vince Vaughn is tops of the cast as the anti-family family man who has a knack for talking his friends into bad ideas. The one that frames the movie is the beginning of a civilian fraternity, which has to undergo review to stay �in school� despite over half the membership being out of college and aged.

Luke Wilson is the main guy, Mitch, who is �re-released into the wild� after his wife (Juliette Lewis) is found to have a strong sexual flavor for multiple partners. Wilson plays the straight man, the reluctant "Godfather" of the fraternity.

Will Ferrell plays, well, Will Ferrell in everything you've seen him in before. Not that it's a bad thing, unless you count the numerous shots of his rear. As the newlywed, Frank still yearns for the 80s life when he was the heavy drinking Frank the tank, making his Camero has loud as possible.

In support, Jeremy Piven turns around his anti-establishment performance in (the underrated) PCU as Dean Pritchard, taking the Animal House Dean Wormer role.

Best, though, may be the increasing casting of Ellen Pompeo lately. She was solid in her debut role in Moonlight Mile as Jake Gyllenhaal's love interest, and smaller but meaningful support in Catch Me If You Can. She seems to be taking on the second-tier roles of the Rene Zellwegger role, formerly the "Monica Potter is the poor film's Julia Roberts."

Old School is a movie for guys who grew up, but unwillingly, like me. The 80s music is a deft touch, playing on the favorites of those of us who believe "Dust in the Wind" is a truly touching song for a funeral.

It's also a flick for "The Late Show with Craig Kilborn" viewers, meaning childish males under 25 who are living the life of the guys on screen. They'll especially see it since Kilborn is actually in the movie.

Yes, Old School is sophomoric, but deliciously tasteless.

The verdict:

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