Rated R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity.
Directed by David Wain (The Ten)
Starring Sean William Scott, Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks
Role Models? Wow… I hope not!!!
A pair of irresponsible energy drink salesmen realize that serving a month of hard time is nothing compared to spending 150 hours in a community mentorship program after they trash the company truck and find themselves at the mercy of the court. But how is the recently dumped Danny supposed to help bashful, role-playing geek Augie become a man when all he can offer the boy is bitter sarcasm? And is beer-chugging man-child Wheeler really the best choice to help foul-mouthed fifth-grader Ronnie develop more respect for his elders? Probably not, but they'll have to do their best anyway when the center's ex-con director confronts them with a harsh ultimatum. Now, if Wheeler and Danny can just make it through the rest of their probation without getting tossed in jail, maybe there's hope for the boys — and Danny's relationship with his fed-up girlfriend after all.
No surprises here. Role Models is one foul joke after another, followed by some foul language with a few scenes of nudity thrown in for kicks. Honestly this movie was very difficult to watch. It is my passion (and job) to care for students; to spend time with them, to help them grow in Christ and make good decisions. This movie makes a complete mockery of all of that and more.
The only thing they did get right is the fact that a child/teenager’s life can be influenced by someone who is older and willing to spend time with them. Jonathan has written a great book called Connect (more about that book here…to be released late in 2009) about how we need to spend real one-on-one time with our students. Unfortunately in Role Models, they influence them to do all the wrong things.
There are a few laugh-out-loud moments, but they don't make up for all the crude, over-the-top humor and negative messages… so “skip it.”
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
I know many will want to, but it’s a big NO on this one. We’ve heard everyone from sport celebrities to rock stars say they are not role models. What they mean to say is they are not good role models. I think we can all agree that our kids are constantly looking up to the people around them; they are looking up at you and me. Skip this one and spend some time with your children and/or students.
Side Note:
As said above, we recommend you skip this film. But on the occasion that your teen actually has already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
