Reviewer's Rating 4 out of 5 Ìý User Rating 4 out of 5
Old School (2003)
15

Mitch (Luke Wilson) comes home to find his insatiable girlfriend (Juliette Lewis) in the bedroom watching hardcore porn. He thinks all his Christmases have come at once... until he discovers the two naked strangers she's spending time with.

When your girlfriend's hosting a mini-orgy and you're not invited, it's probably time to move on.

So begins this uproarious comedy, which follows Mitch and his buddies Frank (Will Ferrell) and Beanie (Vince Vaughn). They decide to drop out of the relationship rat race, and rediscover their college years by opening a frat house at the local university.

Before Mitch knows what's happening, his friends have set up a gruelling schedule of drunken parties, KY wrestling matches, and penis stretching. All of which win the approval of the university's up-for-it teenage populace.

Turning this unlikely set-up into a comedy goldmine, "Road Trip" director Todd Phillips breathes new life into the gross-out formula.

Best described as "American Pie" with a platinum Visa card, it's the incongruousness of the three old-enough-to-know-better male leads that informs the real laughs here.

Wandering around with a baby strapped to his belly while wittering on about all kinds of depraved desires ("Earmuffs!") Vince Vaughn steals the show as Mitch's married-with-kids mate who just wants to let his hair down for a while, and has enough bucks in the bank to fund any kind of debauchery imaginable.

Trading on the combined charms of Wilson, Vaughn, and Saturday Night Live's Will Ferrell, not to mention a killing performance from Jeremy Piven as the university's uptight dean, "Old School" turns out to be something more than just another "Road Trip"/"American Pie" rip-off.

It's a hilariously funny and unexpectedly warm look at three men who just want to be boys again. With all the silliness that wish entails.

End Credits

Director: Todd Phillips

Writer: Todd Phillips, Scot Armstrong, Court Crandall

Stars: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Ellen Pompeo, Juliette Lewis, Jeremy Piven

Genre: Comedy

Length: 90 minutes

Cinema: 09 May 2003

Country: USA

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