Let”s be honest, there are three types of comedies: First, we have the intellectual, satirical variety, followed by the cute, romantic sort that was popularized in the latest chick flick of the week. Last but not least, there are the outrageous and often racy films that pander to the lowest common denominator. Old School definitely falls into the latter category, and it graduates at the top of its class in providing laughs galore. For those who can appreciate the fine art of a dirty joke–several of them, for that matter–Old School should not be missed.
Why see this movie? Two words: Will Ferrell. The Saturday Night Live veteran hits one out of the park in his performance as the soon-to-be-legendary Frank. Poor Frank is enduring the tragic effects of domestication from his recent marriage, and when his wife warns him against consuming alcohol and reverting to his beer-bonging alter ego, Frank ‘The Tank.’ You just know something funny will happen with a nickname like that.
Providing ample opportunity for Frank”s misbehavior are his two lifelong friends, Mitch (Luke Wilson) and Beanie (Vince Vaughn). When Mitch returns from work early to discover his girlfriend hosting a sex party, he abandons their apartment to live in a house near the local college.
The scheming Beanie smells an opportunity to recover the glory days of their youth and throws a beer-soaked housewarming bash featuring Snoop Dogg as the house band, in order to lure nubile college girls en masse.
Unfortunately, the party”s notoriety attracts the attention of the dean. He promptly re-zones the area, declaring Mitch”s home campus property, and evicts him in the process. Naturally, Beanie won”t give up without a fight, and he recruits a misfit gang of individuals to form a fraternity and save the house.
The chemistry between the three lead actors is infectious, such that as fun as the film is to see, one gets the impression that those involved in its making had an even better time. Wilson plays the brokenhearted Mitch to straight-man perfection, allowing his insane friends to shine in their immaturity. Beanie”s joy in the wild side of college life, and refusal to surrender to advancing age, is made even more humorous by the fact that he already has.
Although the other two actors certainly have their moments, Ferrell owns this movie. His ecstatic reaction from dropping his Wild Cherry Pepsi–for ‘just one’ trip–to taking hits on the beer bong is priceless.
Frank gleefully enacts every negative stereotype that has perpetuated the American fraternity system since its inception. Hazing, drunkenness, lewd behavior–the Tank is a natural at all of them. Ferrell has effectively raised his profile as a big-name comedic actor.
Comparisons to Animal House are inevitable. They”re both Ivan Reitman films, feature an irascible drunk as their most memorable character and revolve around the glory of college partying. While the immortal Animal House may be the cinematic equivalent of Mount Everest for ‘college movie’ filmmakers to surpass, Old School makes a valiant effort. This film is not as consistent from beginning to end as its predecessor, and yes, the obligatory romantic elements of the story provide a few dull points, but they”re needed after all the belly laughs. While it may not be the valedictorian of college comedies, Ferrell and the cast firmly establish themselves as class clowns.
