Do you remember your first day in high school? Were you scared, were you nervous, did you hide in the shadows or walk proudly with your chin up through the hallways? For these poor guys it was the beginning of a life-altering experience. Wade (Nate Hartley), Ryan (Troy Gentile), and Emmit (David Dorfman) had the best of intentions as they began the next phase of their lives but as fate would have it, they ended up rubbing the school bullies the wrong way on that very first day of school. Well heck, best friends Wade and Ryan were doomed before they even got on the bus that morning due to a wardrobe coordination problem. Many of us can relate to the frustration and pain that comes about when having to deal with bullies. From that point of view, this movie was actually a little disturbing because of how well you can relate to it. Even though this general storyline is overdone, this particular version had a bit of freshness to it thanks primarily to the cast and some unexpected twists in the plot. The way the story is presented, however, leaves a lot to be desired. It was choppy at best and underdeveloped. So was the title character. I mean sure, Owen Wilson will be Owen Wilson and he can always perform but the character had potential for so much more. The viewer had more attachment to the other characters than with Drillbit when it should at least be equal.

Okay, but is it funny? Yeah, of course it is. On the other hand, if you remember my tears-of-laughter criteria for comedies, this one does not score very high because no tears were shed. It will make you laugh at least of few times though. Once again Owen delivers, barely, as the makeshift body guard for hire. The scene stealer in this picture has got to be Troy playing the role of Ryan. He reminded me of a younger Jonah Hill of Superbad fame, but maybe even better. His snazzy attitude and quick delivery were a pleasure to watch. His was the liveliest character of the bunch. It is also my humble opinion that Leslie Mann is an underrated performer. She plays a teacher in the boys’ school that abruptly develops an infatuation toward Drillbit. She has had some top notch comical supporting actress roles in some really big comedies in recent years. From her role in Big Daddy, to her unforgettable part in 40 Year Old Virgin, to her really strong performance in Knocked Up, she has the ability to throw at you the sharpest wit while maintaining the blankest stare you have ever seen. To top it off, she’s a looker too.

There are few times in one’s life where self defense training comes in as handy as when you’re in high school. Actor/Director Steven Brill successfully got that point across. He also helped show us the importance of friendship and trust, but he also showed us how there can be excellent, sharp dialogue along with corny, lame dialogue within the same movie. The cinematography was a little cheap too. Steven has a good collection of halfway decent comedies (Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds, Without a Paddle) but we’re still waiting for the really big breakout film. Even though this one follows suit with his other works, it’s still an okay movie to see and not to be ruled out completely when making a choice.

Review By Cine Marcos 
cinemarcos@smartcine.com

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