Rating: 
Summary: starts GREAT, ends flat
Review: A new take on the wild debauchery movie...this time an older crowd. This gives the movie the chance to examine more complex relationshipships and some new and genuinely funny laughs.BUT...about 2/3 through, it goes into the formula of Slobs-vs-Snobs with a silly plot device about the guys going up against the school dean. you've seen it before, Major Paine, various rich kids vs. poor kids movies, and done much better in Billy Madison, and of couse...Animal House
Rating: 
Summary: Needs To Go Back to School
Review: In "Old School" Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell star as three middle-aged former partyers who form a fraternity at the local college in order to allow Wilson's character, Mitch Martin, to keep his newly acquired house on campus. Mitch has moved into a campus house vacated by a dead professor after he catches his girlfriend cheating on him. The school's dean (played by Jeremy Piven) is apparently someone that the three knuckleheads used to beat up. Still holding a grudge, Dean Pritchard attempts to have Mitch evicted by re-zoning his house for campus activities; hence, the idea of forming a frat. The whole premise of this movie is to get a bunch of old guys drunk and have them act like, well, drunk idiots. This is not a good idea for the likes of Vaughn and Wilson. Neither of these two brings any kind of passion to their respective roles and each seems embarassed by the part he must play. Ferrell on the other hand is made for this type of movie and he is the only one who delivers. I could count the outloud funny scenes of this movie on one hand. All but one of the moments belong to Ferrell (aka Frank the Tank). From him streaking down Main Street to shooting himself in the neck with a tranquilizer dart to yelling at the fraternity's pledges, "Old School"'s only great moments revolve around him. Not only is "Old School" not a very funny movie; but, it is also not a believable one. This may have a lot to do with Wilson's and Vaughn's underwhelming performances; but, it also has a lot to do with the script. This is just not a believable story. Not to mention that they contort Mitch's situation like a pretzel to make it absolutely necessary that he retain his campus housing. As if a real estate lawyer working for a large firm couldn't scrape up enough money to move into a new place. The bottom line on "Old School" is that, in the fratboy genre, it lags behind the notables and even behind the unnotables like "PCU".
Rating: 
Summary: A Cannonball of Fun!
Review: I know, I know, the plot for this film has been rehashed from "Animal House" and countless other college debauchery flicks, but so what? OLD SCHOOL is a hilarious romp of scintillating and titillating proportions, a 90-minute mad dash of sight gags, crude one-liners, and tongue-in-cheek zaniness. If college fraternities were really like this I never would have left academia (well, I did have my own "eight-year-plan," but that's another story). Three thirtysomething buddies (Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell) decide to revitalize their lives by cranking up a college fraternity whose members are not required to be students at the local university. Of course, such a blasphemous act draws the ire of the college's administrators (insert "Animal House" plot here), and accordingly, the fledgling frat must do battle with the corrupt, unscrupulous establishment. Sure, this ground's been covered before in countless other movies, but OLD SCHOOL adds its own loony spin of mayhem--from concrete blocks tied to fragile appendages, to eye-opening mud wrestling. While OLD SCHOOL's cast, from top to bottom, is excellent, Will Ferrell dominates this film (much like Dangerfield in "Caddyshack," or Belushi in "Animal House"). As Frank "the Tank" Ricard, a newlywed with a party animal mentality, Ferrell's over-the-top antics are bust-a-gut, roll-on-the-floor funny. Ferrell, whether he's streaking or performing a gymnastics floor exercise, carries this film like a fullback with a football. If in fact we equate entertainment with escapism (which I do), OLD SCHOOL delightfully fits the bill. You'll forget the problems of the day with this puppy, and you'll have fun in the process.
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: Am I supposed to be 'offended' by this?
Review: From what I've read in reviews and stuff, and from the press, I was so thinking that I was going to be offended by this film, or some such other utter nonsense. That's why I thought it would be good to review - so I could give a really bitchy long review, and go on about how it's a total guy films, cos all the chicks get their kit off, and none of the guys do. After being warned by the person watching it with me, that I was going to be offended, I couldn't see how I was supposed to be. I was expecting right from the start to be a sort of American Pie etc film - lots of nudity, crude jokes etc. It wasn't. There are a few funny bits, but they're few & far between - I think there's something wrong me, I don't laugh at films/TV anymore, unless it's the little bird in Looney Tunes: Back In Action! The nudity is also hardly there - a guy running through the streets naked, and two girls, who take off their tops, and 'surprise' an old guy. (You can see that bit coming!) Otherwise, I was quite disappointed with this movie. I was wanting to write a really long review and really complain about this film, but unfortunately, I can't. I will say one thing, it's not that much of a guy movie it's made out to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Score
Review: This movie is a modern classic. Anyone who could not appreciate this humor has lost it. I laughed my rear-end off. I recommend this film without reservation. That guy who gave it one star has no taste.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost Worthless
Review: Why a couple of very talented people like Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn would get involved in something like this is beyond me. This movie never gets up to speed, the situations are trite and cliche, and with the exception of Luke Wilson's character, who actually has some depth (and then he does something completely out of character and it ruins any sense of credibility that he has developed), there isn't a role in this movie that is at all believable, and more importantly, there is very little that is funny. It isn't Animal House, it isn't American Pie.....it's just a whole lot of one-liners and 15 second sophmoric humor stretched to 3-5 minutes per gag. It's a good thing Will Ferrel made "Elf", becuase if this was the best he could do, he should have stayed on SNL.
Rating:
Summary: NICE
Review: OLD SCHOOL is about Mitch, a guy who finds his girlfriend cheating on him with a man and a woman, when he tries to get home early from a business trip to see her. He is heartbroken and plunged into a pit of depression. It relates to many other things he does in life and he incorporates his feelings into a particularly funny best man speech at a wedding. Shortly after that, his two best friends, Frank(Ferrel) and Beanie(Vaughn)decide to "release him into the world." The movie didn't really have a plot, but is more a series of crazy events that simply lead onto one another. Although, that was perfect for this movie, being that it turned out successful and hilarious. The lack of plot is not a problem in motivation for the audience to become engaged. The characters do well in getting you to root for them with ease. I have to credit Wilson for doing a great job as a guy who needs to learn to let go, and Ferrel and Vaughn for being the caring friends who teach him how. The movie has a certain amount of heart which is good for most raunchy comedies such as this. But don't worry, this should be worth your money if you like comedy at all. The subject matter in this film is particularly suited for adults. Even if you don't like the plot , you will still enjoy the slapstick and laugh-a-minute humor as well as funny extra characters and even cameos from such people as Snoop Dogg and Seann William Scott. I enjoyed this movie more than once, and it hasn't gotten boring yet. With that being said, I highly recommend this movie (with the potential to become a classic)to those who enjoy comedy, Will Ferrel, or the team behind ROAD TRIP. OLD SCHOOL
Rating:
Summary: Gets better every time I see it
Review: I can honestly say I left the theater unhappy after watching this movie. And I don't know exactly why, but I think it's because this was somewhat of a formulaic comedy similar to just about every other comedy out there. But the more I look back on the theater, I think I went into it looking for a "classic" comedy, something new and mind blowing, and this isn't that. This is along the lines of Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and even as far down the food chain as say Duece Bigalow or The Ladies Man. (yes, I have targeted SNL Flicks there, but this movie DOES star Will Ferrell). That being said, I think of this movie as having some great lines and or scenes (Shawnn William Scott's small part is one of my favorite parts of the entire movie). If you're looking for some goodhearted, crude, humor, then this is the flick, it's not a "classic" (it's not Animal House, as much as it wants to be), but it's well worth a watch or two. If even for just the funniest 10 moments or so.
Rating:
Summary: Will Ferrell - This Is What He Does Best
Review: "Old School" is quite simply a blast. The cast for this film is phenomenal, but Will Ferrell steals the entire show. He takes every scene that he appears in, hands down. The idea for this film is quite original. I agree with the reviewer who remarked that the comedy in this film is quite fresh until it becomes a classic "beat-all-odds" competition at the end. There is never a dull moment. As with any modern comedy, there are many inconsistencies and storylines that are not completed or followed out: Wilson sleeps with an underage girl without consequence & Ferrell's divorce that passes without a problem or second mention. But following these storylines would have detracted from the central pivot of the film: the second coming of the fraternity. Before watching this film, I thought much of the comedy would focus upon this fraternity. But the comedy that exists in the tangential storylines is enough to carry the entire film. "Old School" is an exciting and fresh comedy. Don't come looking for intellectual dialogue or witty humor. Come to watch Will Ferrell create, once again, a remarkable and memorable character. This DVD edition is worth the rent and the documentaries are fun and interesting.
Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC
Review: This movie will be writen down in the pantheon of comedy classics such as Animal House, Caddy shack, Stripes, and Rushmore. The film is a well done comedy - not an easy feat, as anyone knows that has sat through a bad one. The writing is great, and my buddies and I know the lines by memory and send lines via email during the day.
For example: "This house is practically on campus, its sick. How did you score this?" "It was pretty easy really...a professor lived for 30 years and just died."
"That is awesome....pause....awesome (while giving a high-five)" ****** Priceless
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