OLD SCHOOL
Women in these dumb comedies always fall into two categories: the super-sweet
girl next door who's turned on by male antics, and the scolding, castrating
figure. Old School briefly gives us a third type -- the girlfriend who
when you come home early from a business trip you discover is into gangbanging
(Juliette Lewis). But she's gone from the film after 10 minutes, and the rest
of this frat-house farce is devoted to men behaving stupidly. Although the
script by director Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong has its witty moments, like
many real-life fraternity activities, it tries too hard to be cool or funny
(wrestling in a pool of K-Y Jelly, anyone?). But the three stars, Luke Wilson,
Will Ferrell, and Vince Vaughn, often turn water into wine, or at least cheap
keg beer, with their nonchalant portrayals of three 30-year-old friends who
start a fraternity on their town's college campus. Vaughn is especially fun to
watch, perhaps because he's revisiting his Swingers character. Craig
Kilborn, Seann William Scott, and Jeremy Piven also appear. (90 minutes) At
the Entertainment, Flagship, Holiday, Providence Place Mall 16, and Showcase
cinemas.
Issue Date: February 21 - 27, 2003
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