Role Models - 2 1/2 smiles

“Role Models,” for all its profanity and nudity, is, surprisingly, a heart-warming story. You have to wonder why the director felt the need to add such raunchiness. Does he have so little faith in his audience or is he mainly appealing to an age group that might ignore a movie that doesn’t boast vulgar language and topless women? If so, he’s limiting the range and underestimating the intelligence of his audience. On paper, the story appears derivative: a story of adults bonding with children and learning important life lessons in the process. What makes “Role Models” more is the quality of the cast. Wheeler (Seann William Scott) and Danny (Paul Rudd) are representatives for a company that manufactures a high-energy drink. They travel from school to school promoting the drink as a ‘healthy’ alternative to drugs. One a day when everything falls apart, they find themselves on the wrong side of the law. To avoid going to jail, they agree to serve 150 hours of community service by acting as big brothers to troubled kids. Danny is assigned to Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a teen addicted to medieval role playing and Wheeler gets Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson), a youngster as fond of swearing as he is of staring at women’s breasts.

The top-notch cast elevates the material in “Role Models.” Rudd, who brings his own brand of dry wit, adds depth to a man who has become disappointed with his life. Scott plays the immature Wheeler with undisguised glee and Jane Lynch is entertaining as the no nonsense, reformed coke addict head of the child-mentoring group, Sturdy Wings. Mintz-Plasse brings an authenticity to his role as an outsider who gradually understands the importance of friends. And Bobb’e is heart breaking as a young boy who craves attention, even if it’s the negative variety. And one note about ‘the Kiss Factor’: there’s a wonderful connection between the rock band and Kiss-My-Anthia. You have to see it to appreciate it. So if you can overlook the profanity and nudity, you’re sure to enjoy “Role Models.” 11/16/08