Anyone tempted to look down their nose at the plot which trivializes collegiate suicide will not be able to overlook one important fact: This is still a very funny film. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tom Everett Scott play two college kids who spend too much time partying and suddenly need perfect grades to stay in school. Scott is a financially challenged student who came on an academic scholarship. Anything less than a B+ and he can kiss that scholarship goodbye. Gosselaar is a spoiled, rich party animal whose father threatens to cut him off and force him to clean toilets if he flunks out. After bombing their mid-terms, the boys need a miracle. A local in a bar tells them of a loophole in the school charter that will award anyone straight A's if their roommate dies. Since they have a spare bed now that their other roommate is always at his girlfriend's place, they decide to move in any potentially suicidal student and hope he dies. Maybe even help him do it if need be. Any hair-brained scheme like that is bound to lead to all sorts of complications, and it certainly does here. Most of them are absolutely hilarious.
The film has several funny moments and decent performances. Mark-Paul Gosselaar has always been a dependable TV actor, and he provides several laughs as Coop. Most of them involve him disturbing his more serious roommate who is always trying to study. Tom Everett Scott plays the straight man Josh. He was supposed to be the next Tom Hanks back in the 1990s. This has yet to happen, but he is likable and continues to work regularly in television. The chemistry and timing is usually right on the spot between the two. Probably the next best thing about the film is the would-be depressed British rocker they move into their suite because he seems suicidal. It turns out this guy is the epitome of the word "poser". Lochlyn Munro has some funny bits, but he might have been a little too much. Remember that John Belushi was not on the screen as much in Animal House, and that actually made him funnier. Sometimes less really is more.
There is one hell of a lot of dope smoking and drinking in this film, but that's what college is all about for some people. Coop has a bong about as tall as he is. The film tries to redeem the two main characters in the final ten minutes by giving them a serious situation to deal with. Do they redeem themselves? Well yes and no. Well, actually no. You'll have to decide for yourself. If anyone tries to tell you this movie isn't funny, don't listen. It IS funny. A gem from the previous decade all but forgotten. 7 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
The film has several funny moments and decent performances. Mark-Paul Gosselaar has always been a dependable TV actor, and he provides several laughs as Coop. Most of them involve him disturbing his more serious roommate who is always trying to study. Tom Everett Scott plays the straight man Josh. He was supposed to be the next Tom Hanks back in the 1990s. This has yet to happen, but he is likable and continues to work regularly in television. The chemistry and timing is usually right on the spot between the two. Probably the next best thing about the film is the would-be depressed British rocker they move into their suite because he seems suicidal. It turns out this guy is the epitome of the word "poser". Lochlyn Munro has some funny bits, but he might have been a little too much. Remember that John Belushi was not on the screen as much in Animal House, and that actually made him funnier. Sometimes less really is more.
There is one hell of a lot of dope smoking and drinking in this film, but that's what college is all about for some people. Coop has a bong about as tall as he is. The film tries to redeem the two main characters in the final ten minutes by giving them a serious situation to deal with. Do they redeem themselves? Well yes and no. Well, actually no. You'll have to decide for yourself. If anyone tries to tell you this movie isn't funny, don't listen. It IS funny. A gem from the previous decade all but forgotten. 7 of 10 stars.
The Hound.