How many movies have tried to recreate the success of Animal House?  Well it doesn't matter how many times they try, there will never be another Animal House nor can they recreate the same chemistry that Animal House had. Old School is just the latest attempt in a multitude to jump on that hopeless bandwagon. Now I am not saying that Old School staring Luke Wilson  (The Royal Tenenbaums) is not funny. In fact it is hilarious, but it is not Animal House and it doesn't even come close to that level of humor.

Luke Wilson is Mitch Martin, a real estate lawyer and poor sap who comes home early from a convention in San Diego to find his live-in girlfriend Heidi (Juliette Lewis, Enough) having a co-ed gang bang. Something she does whenever he is not home. So Mitch finds new digs on the local college campus. Best friend Beanie (Vince Vaughn, Domestic Disturbance) is thrilled at the prospect of what this house brings. In his desperate desire to find his lost youth and freedom, he hosts the biggest party the campus has ever seen. And since he owns all the Stereo Cities he can supply speakers, TV's and even Snoop Dog (himself) as the entertainment. Then we have recently married Frank (Will Ferrell, Zoolander) who is allowed to attend, but he is not allowed to drink. Because his wife, the control freak she is, doesn't want Frank the Tank to come out and play anymore. Well Frank drinks too much and goes streaking much to the chagrin of his wife who happens to be driving downtown with her girlfriends only to discover her jiggly butt husband is doing it full monty for the whole town to see. She makes him get into the minivan with the gals including Beanie's wife Lara (Leah Remini, Glory Daze). So Frank the tank needs a new pad too, but now so does Mitch. The Dean shows up and evicts his childhood tormentors. Well in order to work their way around the eviction they form a fraternity. Now the movie continues with fraternity pranks, crude jokes, potty humor and Mitch's pursuit of the sweet, unavailable girl. Well, now what would a copycat Animal House movie be like without the Greek system competition and oh yeah, sex with a teenage girl who happens to be the daughter of someone important, not the Dean, the boss.

Well this group of misfits can sure pull it together, but it wouldn't be a movie without that kind of camaraderie and campyness. Also appearing in this movie were Ellen Pompeo, Sara Bryan, Sydney Bryan, Craig Kilborn, Patrick Adams, Rob Corddry, Martin Cummins, Elisha Cuthbert, Andy Dick, Jeremy Piven, Harve Presnell, Victor Raider-Wexler, Perrey Reeves, Seann Williams Scott.  Todd Phillips directed Old School and he also takes credit for writing along with Court Crandall. This movie is funny, predictable and crude, but we wouldn't expect anything less from an Animal House wannabe. I did get a big jiggly booty shot of Will Ferrell, but believe me, not the booty shot I like to see. This movie will never stand the test of time like the film it emulates, but for now if you are looking for a few good laughs, then Old School will do. I give this film an eight on the About-Movies.com scale.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:46:30 AM

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