For a quarter of a century, college comedies have tried to surpass (or simply live up to) John Landis' 1978 classic, "Animal House." Finally, one film may have accomplished this task.
"Old School" is and isn't the average college frat-house film. Writers and directors Court Crandall and Todd Phillips have altered the plot of "Animal House" enough to avoid lawsuits. They still use the oft-repeated story of a crazy fraternity trying not to get shut down by the evil dean. But what makes this film different from movies like 1994's "PCU" is the fraternity itself.
Real-estate lawyer Mitch Martin (Luke Wilson) comes home to find his girlfriend about to take part in an orgy. He quickly moves out of their home and into a place right next to New York's fictional Harrison College. His two best friends, Frank (Will Ferrell) and Beanie (Vince Vaughn) throw him a massive house-warming party. After the success of this "Mitch-a-palooza," Beanie decides to start a fraternity.
From this point on, "Old School" churns out the best jokes any movie has had in a long time. The good thing about "Old School" is that Phillips does not indulge in the gross-out humor loved by directors like the Farrelly brothers. The gags in this movie all rely on the comic ability of the three lead actors.
Ferrell is, without a doubt, the funniest of the three. In his first film since leaving "Saturday Night Live" last May, he demonstrates his ability to follow in the footsteps of previous "SNL" alumni such as Bill Murray and Adam Sandler. But Ferrell is not confined to one specific kind of role, as so many other "SNL" cast members are.
He is all over the place in this movie. As Frank "The Tank," he portrays a man reluctant to grow up, despite the forces at work against him. He wants to be with his new wife (Perrey Reeves), but doesn't want to lose himself in the process. Between trying to get marriage counseling for streaking and shooting himself with one of the most powerful tranquilizer guns in the world, Ferrell contributes comic gold.
Ferrell's gags rely on his ability to play an accidental fool, whose hilarity comes out of circumstances that "just happen" to him. Vince Vaughn's Beanie is completely the opposite.
He is essentially Vaughn's Trent from 1996's "Swingers," all grown up. Beanie has become exceedingly rich running a chain of electronics stores and comes up with the idea to start the fraternity. Unlike Frank or Mitch, Beanie could care less about how others perceive him.
As Mitch, it is good to see Luke Wilson back in standard comedy after his depressing role in 2001's "The Royal Tenenbaums." Amongst his friends, Mitch's jokes are the most subtle, rounding out the comedic trio nicely. The audaciousness of Ferrell, the bluntness of Vaughn, and now the calm sarcastic wit of Wilson, gives audiences a full range of hilarity.
In one of the opening scenes, Mitch makes a toast at Frank's wedding about true love. "True love is hard to find," he said. "Sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blind-folded like some damn magic show."
While it's less than impressive in print, Wilson's dry witticisms are hilarious on screen.
Viewers should expect no less from Phillips, who made 2000's "Road Trip." Phillips has the ability to capture both utter hilarity and the sweeter side to life as well, succeeding where many other comedy directors fall short.
"Old School" is the comedy every college student has waited for. It does not waste its time trying to be more than just a hilarious movie about three guys who are disenchanted with adult life. But what makes "Old School" a modern masterpiece is not any of the things that have been discussed thus far.
What raises "Old School" from the level of a disposable flick to a comedy classic is seeing Ferrell's bare butt in the first half hour of the movie.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
