Drillbit Taylor

STARRING: Owen Wilson View Trailer RELEASE DATE: 03/21/2008 DATE SCREENED: 02/23/2008 The Verdict NOT GOOD - Wait for cable

Judd Apatow (as producer) and Seth Rogen (as writer) follow up the success of Superbad with the more family friendly Drillbit Taylor. The film chronicles two friends, Ryan and Wade, as they embark on their first weeks of high school. Ryan is the funny fat guy and Wade is the skinny nerd. Although they were ridiculed in Jr. High, they are determined to change their fortunes in high school.

Ryan & Wade’s first day of school does not get off to a good start, as the excitement of their first day is crushed when they arrive at the school bus stop wearing the same shirt. Upon arriving at school, Wade speaks up for a small kid being stuffed into a locker by a bully named Filkins. Filkins turns his attention on the two buddies, as they are easy targets with their matching shirts. The kid being stuffed into the locker, Emmit, latches on to Ryan and Wade. The three of them are forced to endure constant abuse every day at the hands of Filkins. They eventually come up with the ingenious idea of hiring a body guard to protect them at school. An ad in a magazine draws the attention of many bodyguards looking for easy work, but with their lack of finances they are forced to hire Drillbit Taylor, played by Owen Wilson. Drillbit is a “down on his luck” homeless man looking for a few dollars to start a new life in Canada. He pretends to be a former soldier, who will not only offer protection, but teach the boys how to fight themselves. Drillbit is a funny and likeable guy who is making up things as he goes along. He ends up pretending to be a substitute teacher, who makes life miserable for the bully Filkins while seducing one of the other teachers. As Drillbit grows more and more fond of the kids, a few of his homeless buddies hatch a plan to rob their homes. Drillbit must protect the kids from the bully, and his so-called friends, while not being discovered as an imposter.

Owen Wilson is playing his typical fast talking, silly, character that we have seen many times before. He can do this kind of role in his sleep. If you are a big fan of his, you will surely like him here. The kids are likeable as well, as they do the best they can with the material. The problem is that the material is not very funny. The fat kid's rap battle with the bully is one of the film's funnier moments, but I could see most of the jokes coming and I’ve tired of Owen Wilson’s act. Apatow and Rogen must have been outcasts as kids, as the movies they work on together all have similar themes of geeks overcoming some adversity. But their raunchier versions of this theme, like Knocked Up, Superbad, or 40 Year Old Virgin are much more enjoyable. Plus, that theme was done best in Revenge of the Nerds back in 1984. There was only a small audience at the screening, and there wasn’t much laughter. The kids seemed completely uninterested. The movie does have some funny moments, but they are few and far between. Wait for it to come on cable, unless you are a huge Owen Wilson fan.