There were quite a few pretenders to the throne, but the King of Comedy was a small after thought of film called Role Models. It was written by Paul Rudd (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Anchorman; The Ron Burgundy Story) and David Wain. It was directed by Wain. The movie starred Rudd and American Pie's Stifler, Seann William Scott. It also featured Superbad's McLovin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as an introverted Middle Earth role playing fanatic. Jane Lynch (an easily recognizable character actress and Christopher Guest film regular) as the head of Big Brother type organization called Sturdy Wings. But the film was almost stolen by the antics of Bobb'e J. Thompson, a pint size Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence/Richard Pryor all rolled up together and placed in a less than 4 foot frame.
The movie starts out about the trials and tribulations of Danny (Rudd) in a thankless job for the past 10 years hawking a Red Bull knock off called Minotaur. As the two pitchmen, with Wheeler (Scott) in costume, travel from school classroom to school assembly, we see how career burn out is affecting Danny. This all leads to a tow truck altercation that lands them with community service.
They are sent to Sturdy Wings, the cross between Big Brothers and the Isle of Misfit Toys. The organization is run by Gayle Sweeny (Lynch) who started it all to fight demons of her own. And along the way Danny is losing his lawyer girlfriend, Beth played by Elizabeth Banks. His recent downer attitude has invaded their relationship and she moves out to prove her point.
The movie moves along in fine comic form as Wheeler and Danny find out that friendship and personal harmony come from stepping away from their own self absorbed behavior and giving their time to others, while a nod goes to the legend of the rock band KISS for helping instill these virtues.
The ensemble in this film work great together. Danny's angst, Wheeler's free wheeling, McLovin's Augie Farks' home life insecurities and Bobb'e J. Thompson's Ronnie's brash mouth and love of breasts cast a light on how they are all misfits with no direction or support. Lynch's character ties all these crazies together with a subtle, but memorable tour de force performance.
Rudd has crafted a comedy that steps out of the large shadow cast by recent comedies featuring Will Ferrell and Seth Rogan. The film has heart which opened it up to a larger audience. Language is the only reason it ended up with a R rating and most of that centered around Ronnie and Wheeler's initial at odds, Big Brother relationship. Had this movie been PG-13, it could have doubled its gross and proved twice as popular with the younger teen crowd.
The movie was kind hearted, didn't base itself on shock value, and had believable side characters including the parents of the two "Littles" (the Sturdy Wings term for Little Brothers, Ronnie and Augie). The visit to Chipmunk Charlie's is a Thompson film stealer. Rudd and Scott's visit to Lynch's office, asking for additional hours knocked off their time sheets, is a classic, too.
The final battle on the LAIR field tied the movie up wonderfully, as well as hilariously. This was the funniest movie of 2008. At least the funniest movie that flew under everyone's radar. Funny and warm hearted, do add it to your collection.