Keeping it Reel
Mike Robida lives in South Berwick and attends Marshwood High School. He spends Friday nights at the movies with his friends and writes and directs his own films.
September 2006
September 30, 2006
Back to School With Napoleon Dynamyte
Guys. Do you ever feel like you’re nothing but a loser? Are you ignored completely by the object of your affection? Do you need help? Well look no further than Dr. P’s “School for Scoundrel’s” where the low, low cost of $5,000 can change you from a Napoleon Dynamyte into a real man.
School for Scoundrel’s is directed by Todd Phillips, who brought us the hilarious “Old School” and “Starsky and Hutch.” Though “Scoundrel’s” does have it’s moments of laugh out loud ridiculousness, it falls short of being considered another of Phillip’s successes.
John Heder (Napoleon Dynamyte, The Benchwarmers) has a hard time standing up for himself and his library of self help books haven’t been of much use. So he attends a “top secret” class on self improvement (not exactly a motivational one) run by the suave and sympathy lacking instructor Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton).
The movie is fun, but few people will feel that they got their money’s worth. Luckily I used a “free-movie pass.” The film did have many, many funny sequences, but you are too often found feeling overly-embarrassed for the cast of characters and just want to stand up and shout advice to them. And Ben Stiller’s character “Lonnie” reminded me way too much of Will Ferrell’s character “Chaz Reinhold” in “Wedding Crashers.”
I wouldn’t recommend the film to anyone, I won’t see it again, and I definitely won’t buy it, but I will admit it was a fun movie and might be worth the DVD rental.
Also, I watched “V for Vendetta” today for the first time and it was excellent. I really recommend that you rent it!



