School for Scoundrels

[MadsenOMC]

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!




“School for Scoundrels” is easily one of the worst movies of the year. I laughed exactly twice during the entire 100 or so minutes. I will get to those scenes later.

For the record, I do like Todd Phillips’s previous efforts. “Road Trip” and “Old School” are pretty hilarious and “Starsky & Hutch” is a mildly amusing diversion. It’s not that I despise the man’s films. I never expected that he was capable of making something this unfunny.

If you like Jon Heder, you will probably like this a lot more than I did. Personally, I can’t stand him. For me he’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. Everything about him rubs me the wrong way. His looks, his voice, his mannerisms. I think he’s an awful actor capable of doing nothing but playing variations of his “Napoleon Dynamite” character.

In “School for Scoundrels” he plays a meek New York City meter maid named Roger Waddell. In the painfully stupid opening scene he gives a thug a parking ticket only to have said thug shoot at him. Cause everyone knows all black guys pack heat and shoot with little to no provocation. The thug and his friend also rob Roger and steal his clothes and New Balance work shoes. This is all supposed to be funny. Really.

To make matters worse, the nine year-old boy that Roger mentors at Big Brothers, Big Sisters wants a new Big Brother. This has happened twice before. We don’t meet the kid and we never learn why this happens so frequently.

His boss at the youth center (David Cross) gives him a phone number and tells him to either call it or burn it.

The number belongs to a Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton). Roger is soon a student in his class, which is untitled. Though he never says exactly who he is or what he does, Dr. P is some sort of motivational speaker. Think Frank T.J. Mackey crossed with Dr. Phil.

15 guys are in the class. They all have confidence problems. Dr. P, after collecting $5,000 in cash from each one, is going to teach them how to be more assertive.

Roger’s goal is to ask out his cute neighbor, Amanda (Jacinda Barrett), a grad student from Australia who volunteers at an animal shelter.

“School for Scoundrels” is essentially broken up into thirds. In the first third Roger learns how to be more confident. In the second Dr. P attempts to ruin his life and steal Amanda. In the final third Roger gets his revenge and tries to win back his dream girl.

OK, so those two funny scenes. In one, after Roger unconvincingly telling Dr. P that things are going well with Amanda, Dr. P replies, “Yeah right. In a few days you two will be adopting a Chinese baby together.”

In the other, Todd Louiso (who plays another student) tells Roger that the class has been so good for him, “two chicks are back at my apartment and they think I’m Moby.”

That’s it. Those may not sound funny, but they made me laugh out loud. Other than that I did not laugh during this movie. I chuckled a few times, but didn’t laugh.

The rest consists of Dr. P berating his students, people getting hit in the balls with something (like a paintball) or Heder falling down. If you love people getting hit in the crotch or falling down, you will love this movie. There are plenty of both.

Sadly Thornton is wasted here. This is Heder’s movie. Billy Bob is hardly in the first half of the movie and when he is, he is yelling tame, PG-13 insults like, “You guys are losers!” Or, “You guys are pathetic!” His heart doesn’t seem in it, like he also knows the material isn’t very good. He couldn’t have been on set all that much.

In the second half he is just another lying sleaze trying to steal our hero’s girl.

Barrett has even less screen time than Thornton and makes no impression. And Ben Stiller fans, the TV clips selling him as a lead are merely a desperate attempt to get you into the theater. He shows up at the end and has about three minutes of screen time.

Since Heder completely lacks charisma, it is impossible to root for him and impossible to care whether or not he and Amanda end up together. No time is spent establishing his crush on her. They have one date and Thornton and Barrett make a more convincing couple than Heder and Barrett.

“School for Scoundrels” is a failure on every possible level. It is appallingly bad. It’s of the so-bad-you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it variety. Only you don’t want to see movies this bad. Avoid it like a sexually transmitted disease.

3/10

[dman476]

Okay then, I'll take your word for it. :D
I was going to see it if it got good reviews, but seeing as you're a pretty tough (and accurate) reviewer, I think I, for one, will be missing it. Thanks for the input...

[ilovemovies]

I'm particularly disappointed to hear that Billybob Thorton is wasted. The main reason I wanted to see this was because I loved the idea of pairing John Heder with Thorton. :(

I'll still see it though.

[thedudeman69]

Well, my worst fears have been realized. I never laugh or I barely chuckle at the trailers or tv spots for it.

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
I'm particularly disappointed to hear that Billybob Thorton is wasted.

Same here. I love Billy Bob. Extremely good, versatile actor. He is hilarious in Bad Santa and I found him mostly funny in the Bad News Bears remake. This is not the Billy Bob of either of those. First of all he isn't the lead. Second, he does nothing but shout lame insults at these guys. You're a retard, etc.

[RandalGraves]

I'll be seeing this sometime in theaters if not opening weekend.

[DareDevil]

Thanks for the heads up Madsen, too bad to hear I was just thinking recently that Todd Phillips was one of the up and coming comedy directors, I hope he can rebound after this one.

I was also thinking that Jon Heder's 15 mins of fame are going to be over pretty soon, especially if this movie doesn't make decent money.

[Bourne101]

I'm not looking forward to this movie as much as I was when I first heard about the Heder, Thorton tag-team. But Madsen's review isn't going to bring me down lower, considering he hasn't been liking too much these days (no offense, I know the crop isn't as ripe as it could be). I will probably see it in theatres but no garuntees. I might not go to the movies next weekend and that would leave TCM and The Departed for the next weekend, so I'm not sure.

[daddiefatsacks]

after two really funny R-Rated movies....why did Phillips make two shitty PG-13 movies?

[bigred760]

Have no desire to see this movie, even before seeing the low rating by my fellow schmoe.

What the hell happened to Billy Bob Thornton? Can he not get good scripts? Can he not write good scripts? He has to settle for remakes and shitty comedies (I liked The Ice Storm - but that still is small potatoes compared to what he could do). His stock is falling, big time.

[jolanar]

Originally posted by daddiefatsacks
after two really funny R-Rated movies....why did Phillips make two shitty PG-13 movies?

Come now, don't make me say it....



(P.s. It was for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by Bourne101
But Madsen's review isn't going to bring me down lower, considering he hasn't been liking too much these days (no offense, I know the crop isn't as ripe as it could be).

I recently wrote positive reviews for The Science of Sleep and The Illusionist, and I thought Hollywoodland was OK. Just for the record.

[chinton]

this looks so dumb in so many ways

[echo_bravo]

It basically sounds like it has the same premise as Anger Management.

Billy Bob is helping Heder get confidence in himself and help with women...then they fall for the same chick.

Looks lame as shit and I love most of Billy Bob's stuff.

[ilovemovies]

Madsen we've must have seen two different movies because I don't know what you are talking about. I don't think Billybob Thorton is wasted at all. And you said that he barely shows up the first half of the movie? That's not true either.

I didn't like John Heder in The Benchwarmers and I only kinda liked him in Just Like Heaven. I haven't seen Napoleon Dynamite. But I actually liked him in this movie. He gives a pretty good performance. And my love for Jacinda Barrett continues to grow. She doesn't have a lot to do in this movie but she's gorgeous and a good actress too. But, not surprisingly, the best thing about the movie is Billybob Thorton. Is this his best performance? Absolutely not. But I still loved him here. Nobody plays this kind of character better than he does. He's great here.

The movie isn't anything great. Nothing original but it's pleasant, agreeable, easy to sit through (atleast I thought) and at times very, very funny.

7/10

[CletusHorniblow]

I liked Heder in Napolean Dynamite, but other than that he seems fairly useless. Sort of like a one-hit wonder. I may see this though, if not for Heder, then for BIlly Bob, Stiller and Todd Phillips.

EDIT: Are there funnier jokes than the ones in the trailer? Because it didn't even put a smile on my face.

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Madsen we've must have seen two different movies because I don't know what you are talking about. I don't think Billybob Thorton is wasted at all. And you said that he barely shows up the first half of the movie? That's not true either.


Sorry but you are wrong. This is Heder's movie and Thornton is not in much of the first half. After he starts competing for the girl, he is in the movie more. But he is not a large part of the first half. And this is Thornton lite. He can play a role like this in his sleep. It is a tamer, more poorly written version of his Bad Santa and Bad News Bears characters. The writing is uninspired and obvious. I can't believe you liked this. It is abysmal in every way.

[jackson13]

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[jackson13]

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[jackson13]

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[jackson13]

Originally posted by MadsenOMC
I can't believe you liked this. It is abysmal in every way.

YEAH! What the hell were you thinking forming your own opinion? Shame. On. You. *rolls eyes*



I was gonna pass on this in the theater, mainly cause I know it'll come with an unrated DVD which means uncut Billy Bob, but dammit, my local drive-in is closing this weekend (for the season) and their final comedy feature of the year is this paired with 'Clerks II', and I want to see Clerks II again so I am going. If it sucks, it sucks, but I'll at least have the hilariousness of Clerks II right after it to erase it from my memory.

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by jackson13
YEAH! What the hell were you thinking forming your own opinion? Shame. On. You. *rolls eyes*


Oh no! The dreaded eye roll! Whatever will I do? I never said he was wrong, did I? Just that I can't believe he liked it. You ever see a movie that you hate in every way, and when someone else says they like it, you can't believe it? For me this is one of those movies. I hope that is OK with you.

[Tuukka]

I'm actually supposed to believe that an uber geek like Heder would have a romantic relationship with a super hottie like Barrett?

[anakinsrise]

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS is definitely not a laugh every minute comedy,even though the young lady sitting next to me laughed from the opening credits until the end of the movie.
It does have its moments though,but unlike the aforementioned young lady i didnt start laughing until the half hour mark.
Everyone has their moments to shine in the film from
Jon Heder to Sarah Silverman.
But it definitely loses points for "borrowing" ideas from 2003's Anger Management.
Scale of 1-10 a 6 1/2

[dreamcurls]

i did want to see this, b/c i like billy bob
but i don't care for Heder
and I really can't stand Ben Stiller, I'm glad he soen't have a big part
guess I'll catch it on video

[jackson13]

Originally posted by MadsenOMC
I never said he was wrong, did I?

Um, do you read your own posts at all? Cause look at this one:



Originally posted by MadsenOMC
Sorry but you are wrong. This is Heder's movie and Thornton is not in much of the first half. After he starts competing for the girl, he is in the movie more. But he is not a large part of the first half. And this is Thornton lite. He can play a role like this in his sleep. It is a tamer, more poorly written version of his Bad Santa and Bad News Bears characters. The writing is uninspired and obvious. I can't believe you liked this. It is abysmal in every way


Hmm, looks to me like right at the very beginning of the sentence you flat out said YOU ARE WRONG.


I ended up not liking it, like I said I probably wouldnt, but I'm still going to check out the unrated DVD when it comes out since uncut Billy Bob is better than pg-13 Billy Bob.

[MadsenOMC]

What the fuck are you talking about? That is a completely different post from the one you mentioned before. And he is wrong about that. Thornton is not in the beginning of the movie much. I strongly believe he is wrong about that.

[daddiefatsacks]

lol one is a fact and one is an opinion, its a fact that Thornton is NOT the star and its Heder's movie

stop trying to find stupid ways to sabotage Madsen, the guy has balls and he stands firmly by every decision he makes in his reviews, and hes very passionate about his views, and he does do it in a proper manner, so exploiting him is just senseless.

[ilovemovies]

Well both are an opinion. And I don't agree with Madsen that Thorton is wasted and that he's barely in the first half. He has plenty of screen time and he really makes the movie for me. I thought Heder was fine, certainly much better here than he was in The Benchwarmers. But to me it is Thorton who runs away with the movie. In MY opinion of coarse. It's just a difference in opinion and there is nothing wrong with that. I just honestly don't say how he says he's barely in the first half. But again, that's my perspective of things. My opinion.

And I infact do always look forward to reading Madsen's reviews.

[MadsenOMC]

ilovemovies, we obviously disagree on whether or not Thornton is wasted in the movie. So be it. Yes, that is just opinion. But I think you are 100%, flat-out wrong about him not being barely in the first half of the movie. Dude, he isn't even in the first 15-20 minutes, at all. First there's Heder's run-in with the two thugs. Then there's his scene at the boys and girls club. Then he goes home to his apartment. Then he finally goes to the class, where Thornton shows up for the first time. We're already well into the movie at this point. He does become more prominent in the second half, but he simply isn't in the first half all that much. Oh well. At least it bombed. Makes me happy.

[jackson13]

The only person that is barely in the movie is Ben Stiller.

What did he have, 2, maybe 3, scenes? Yet in the tv spots they advertise it as: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder and Ben Stiller.

Come on! Stiller had nothing more than a glorified cameo.

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by jackson13
The only person that is barely in the movie is Ben Stiller.

What did he have, 2, maybe 3, scenes? Yet in the tv spots they advertise it as: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder and Ben Stiller.

Come on! Stiller had nothing more than a glorified cameo.

A desperate attempt to sell the movie, which clearly didn't work.

[Strider]

School for Scoundrels - 6/10 or ***/***** stars

Surprisingly, School for Scoundrels is a decent and occasionally hilarious comedy, with effective chemistry between leads Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, and some funny moments involving the likes of Michael Clarke Duncan, Sarah Silverman, and Horatio Sanz, but like most comedies these days, the film slows down towards the end and is not nearly as entertaining as what came before. Overall, it's amusing enough to warrant an early matinee showing or waiting to rent on a Friday night.

Strider

[jackson13]

Originally posted by MadsenOMC
A desperate attempt to sell the movie, which clearly didn't work.

I agree. Ben Stiller just isnt as big of a name as Hollywood would like him to be.

[fooknasty]

I am not a big fan of Heder's at all. (Thought Napolean Dynamite and Benchwarmers were pieces of shit), but suprisingly I kinda liked this movie.

Thornton was very good playing the ass kicking instructor, and I think his performance made the movie all that more enjoyable. There were not that many hilarious scenes in the movie, but the chemistry and innocence of the movie made it enjoyable.

5/10

Minor Spoiler

I was hoping Stiller was going to do something hilarious toward the end of the movie. My buddies and I through the last 20 minutes of the movie were like "Oh shit, the end credits is gonna have Stiller doing somethingn hilarious." But alas, nothing.

[cletus66]

School for Scoundrels did not have many laugh out loud moments but it was funny enough to keep me entertained for the entire movie. I really think this is a movie that would have been alot better if they went for an R rating rather than a watered down PG-13. Both Billy Bob Thornton and Todd Phillips have done their best work in R rated movies and I think that School for Scoundrels would have turned out to be alot funnier if they didnt have to hold back for the PG-13.


6.5/10

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by cletus66
I really think this is a movie that would have been alot better if they went for an R rating rather than a watered down PG-13. Both Billy Bob Thornton and Todd Phillips have done their best work in R rated movies and I think that School for Scoundrels would have turned out to be alot funnier if they didnt have to hold back for the PG-13.


I totally agree. This should have been R. Clearly that wouldn't have hurt its box office.

[brode]

i agree, Jon Heder is a horrible actor. i hated ND and benchwarmers
im sure a school for scoundrels ticket stub wont be found in my pocket anytime soon.. thanks for the heads up even though its what i was leaning towards believing anyhow.