Directed by Todd Phillips / Written by Todd Phillips & Scot Armstrong
Starring Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Vince Vaughn
91 mins / DreamWorks / Rated R

The Poster.

In Old School, a group of 30-somethings attempt to start a fraternity as a way back to their younger days. It's a frat house movie much in the tradition of Animal House and Phillip's previous movie, Road Trip. It has plenty of the same gross out antics and gratuitous nudity that made the other films so fun. Of course, what Old School has that makes it rise above most movies of it's type, is a cast of veteran comedic actors. It's what they do with their stereotyped roles that make the film so much fun to watch.

Vince Vaughn's motor-mouthed, cool guy delivery is in full effect here. Much like Swingers and Made, he talks until you just can't help but like him - no matter what he does. Although the film is centered around Luke Wilson's straight man character, we really look for the laughs with Vaughn. Luke Wilson exudes the usual slacker charm that he honed so wonderfully in the Wes Anderson movies. Like his brother Owen, his humor lies in the even-handed way he approaches every situation. He's calm and collected, even in the face of unexpected group sex and cheating mates.

Wilson, Ferrell and Piven

Of course, it's Will Ferrell that really steals the show. Ferrell is a man completely at ease with his character's ineptitude. As a former college drinker now cowed by his somewhat over bearing wife, he releases his emotions in a fury of drink and yelling. Stripped to his essentials, both literally and figuratively, Ferrell runs around causing havoc and creating fun. Of course, when he's not the center of attention, the scenes are never as fun.

There are some slow patches in the film. The romantic subplot is a bit trite and you keep wishing the action would return to Will Ferrell streaking through the streets. The film could have benefited from some concentration on singular plot elements. And although there's many funny cameos and side stories, what we really want to see is Will and the gang having fun and getting into trouble with their latest adventures. Unfortunately the movie often diverges from this plot to mull over Luke Wilson's complicated romance and Will Ferrell's marriage trouble

A view of heaven

The supporting cast is fantastic, with Jeremy Piven, Leah Remini, Terry O'Quinn, Andy Dick and 24's resident super-hottie, Elisha Cuthbert showing up with some nice scenes.

Had the movie concentrated on a single element - it would have been ten times funnier. And that's saying a lot. The film is great as it is, but just falls short of being a masterpiece.

Movie Grade: A-

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