“You think I like avoiding my wife
and kids to hang out with nineteen year old girls everyday?”
Old School, starring Luke
Wilson (Mitch Martin), Will Ferrell (Frank Ricard) and Vince Vaughn (Bernard ‘Beanie’
Campbell), is classic college comedy released in 2003. The movie is directed by John Phillips who is
experienced in the college film genre, also filming the critical acclaimed
movie Frat House. Old School caught my eye because I am a big
fan of Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn. I
had no idea what to expect going into the movie as I have never seen it before.
Mitch
comes back from a long, unsuccessful business trip to his house to see that his
wife is cheating on him with multiple people.
Crushed, he moves out and divorces her.
A few weeks later, Mitch goes to goes to a wedding where he is reunited
with his college buddies. During the
wedding, the friends admit their struggles and recent shortcomings to each
other, talking about how they lost touch with their old self.
A few weeks after the wedding, the
guys help Mitch move into a new house near a college town. To help get over his ex-wife, Bernard throws
a party titled Mitch-A-Palooza with the backing of his own stereo company. The party is viewed as a huge success around
the campus and the parties continue, irking the dean of the college. Dean Pritchard was the butt end of many jokes
during his college years with Mitch, Frank and Bernard. To get back at them, he gets the house zoned
and makes it part of the campus, meaning that the house can only be used for
school purposes. In response, the guys
decide to create a fraternity, to keep Mitch’s house and also relive their
glory days in college. A hilarious story
ensues with the guys rounding up a group of misfits pledges who must keep the
fraternity running.
A quality college film must have a
few traits to be successful. First off,
in college I have no free time, I cannot waste a minute of my time watching a
boring movie. Furthermore, the actors
must fit the role well and help create a greater meaning to the story. Also, it is very important that all the small
things are appropriate; dorm rooms, music, parties, and actions of the
characters resemble a true college lifestyle.
Many star-studded
movies disappoint, relying on the actors to cover up a weak plot, meaning and
special effects. Old School is unlike these movies, as the actors only add to the
depth to the plot and story that comically engages the audience the entire
time. Hysterical scenes of the guys
hazing the pledges may not be entirely realistic, but I can relate and laugh at
what they have to do, as I am a pledge myself.
This movie is a must see movie for
any big Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson or Vince Vaughn, college movie or comedy
fan. I would especially recommend this
movie for anyone who was ever involved in Greek life. This movie is sure to provide many good
laughs, and don’t worry about having too much fun watching it; the pledges will
clean up after you.
