Drillbit Taylor (2008) Poster

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7/10
Surprisingly sweet
HotToastyRag27 July 2022
Although this silly kids' movie might not seem like it will hold your interest, give it another thought before renting something else this weekend. If you liked the sentiment behind Freaks and Geeks, you'll love it. Co-produced by Apatow Productions and co-written by Seth Rogen, there's an obvious soft spot in the film's heart for misfit kids who can't catch a break. This isn't a movie where you can root for the bad guys, and while it does make fun of the scrawny, overweight, and unmasculine, it does so with the same playful affection friends tease each other.

While starting out high school, Nate Hartley and Troy Gentile find themselves the new targets of horrible bullies Alex Frost and Josh Peck. The harassment is so terrible, and no parent or principal can help them, so they take a drastic chance in hiring a bodyguard. They interview many professionals but settle on the cheapest option: Owen Wilson. Why does he only charge $200? Because unbeknownst to the kids, he's a homeless veteran who just wants enough money to buy a ticket to Canada. Together with his other homeless pals, he plans to string the kids along and then rob them.

But since this is a family comedy, it's a safe bet that he'll find himself endeared to the kids. He does start off as a slick conman, but when he finally sees how much the kids need him, he finds a new purpose and starts taking the bodyguard job seriously. There is a brief part of the movie where Owen suggests finding common ground and making friends with the bullies, but that doesn't pan out. Sometimes, kids are bad to the bone and no amount of "conflict resolution" or loving your enemies can soften their hearts. So, don't expect everyone to have a Thanksgiving potluck together at the end of the movie.

I liked Drillbit Taylor so much more than I thought I would. I thought it was going to be far too silly and geared towards teen boys for my taste, but it was surprisingly sweet. Owen was really adorable, and it put me in the mood for the old Freaks and Geeks episodes.
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8/10
I love this movie!
UniqueParticle15 January 2020
Very funny and quite entertaining! Unfortunately I enjoy more than others but that's ok that's usually how it is. I love so many of the lines and characters. So much fun to watch especially after some rough days. I absolutely love Danny McBride he's great in anything! Solid fun glad I own on Blu-Ray now!
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8/10
Another inventive comedy from the Apatow crew
hellokristen26 February 2008
I love IMDb.com. I just came here (after seeing the movie) and saw that John Hughes (using a pseudonym) was one of the writers of this movie. That makes sense, because the movie covers the awkwardness, danger and constant potential for life-ruining humiliation that is freshman year high school. Being "skinny, scared and lonely", as Drillbit Taylor puts it.

One of the other writers is the awesome Seth Rogen, co-writer & co-star of "Superbad" and co-star of "Knocked Up".

Owen Wilson is funny, sexy and heartwarming in this role. The trio of geeky lads who hire Owen as their protector are all played by wonderful young actors. The Apatow organization seems to have a genius for finding great and funny teen actors. I was especially impressed by Alex Frost (he plays the bully) who I think has stardom in his future.

The small roles of the film are filled by standup comics and "The Daily Show" alumni. Good talent all around.

The movie is not perfect. It's front-loaded -- meaning the first half has so many laughs you can't hear all the lines for the laughter. Then it suddenly slows down in the second half. It's still interesting -- just not as funny. And when you get to the violent fighting, that dries up the laughs.

Overall though, any film from the Apatow organization is going to be 6 times funnier and more inventive than the average movie comedy out there. So go have some laughs.
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6/10
Fairly average but still enjoyable
teresaband29 March 2008
There's not much new you can really do with a high school comedy, but at least the notion of Owen Wilson playing a jakey posing as a bodyguard promises a few laughs and a half.

It's a decent enough family comedy, and there are a few laugh out loud moments, but they're spread too thin to make this a classic jape. The 3 bullied teens are hugely likable though, and Wilson has such an easygoing charm that it's difficult not to enjoy it, even if he does work better when he's got a proper sparring partner to riff off.

The end result is likable without being lovable, funny without being hilarious and enjoyable without being particularly memorable.
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8/10
Funnier than I imagined
hnd730220 March 2008
I recently went to see the sneak preview Tuesday, going in I thought it'll be so-so in the humor department. This isn't a smart make you think comedy, but it had heart in the right places and it was very funny none the less. It has a few plot holes, but nothing too obvious to the viewer.

I really enjoyed watching the characters, Owen Wilson is really great at these types of comedies. In the end though I've got to say that the kids they casted really stole the show. They fit their roles perfectly.

In the end all I can say is that this movie is redemption for geeky fresh meat everywhere.
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Owen Wilson: Army of One
Robert_Scott22 March 2008
It's been a while since I wrote one of these but thanks mainly to Owen Wilson for another hilarious (yes and interchangeable) role, this movie was funny enough to get motivated once again.

The premise is obviously pretty simple and has been done before in both bodyguard and teen movies (Superbad and My Bodyguard come to mind...duh). The beauty of this movie it combines the two genres with Owen Wilson's natural comedic talent and three capable younger actors resulting in a mostly funny comedy that is unique from the rest.

There was an interesting metaphor contained in one of the trailers showing Drillbit telling the kids he's taking them under his wing. The reason I say this is interesting is because this is how it mostly worked for the movie's humor. It took almost 15 minutes for it to really get started. Don't get me wrong, there were some funny parts that didn't involve him like the bodyguard interviews (gotta love Frank Whaley's cameo), Ryan's rap off with the bully and the two hitting each other but the biggest laughs for me were from Owen Wilson. To be fair though, Owen was at his best when the kids were involved. I loved the way he approached this "job" with one part seriousness, one part B.S. and two parts hilarious. I was dying when he was holding up that kid's burning popsicle stick project up to the sprinklers and just the general training conversations just to illustrate that recipe.

Overall, this storyline was nothing brilliant but as in You Me and Dupree, Owen Wilson manages to take something that could be rather mediocre turning it into an enjoyable and endearing comedy. True, he really didn't do it by himself as I'd try to make you believe. I mean the way the bullies were portrayed was a very convincing and effective factor that helped sell this one as well and who could forget the lovely Leslie Mann in an interesting and sometimes funny romantic subplot. To sum it all up, if you liked the trailers you're going to like this movie. And a shout to all the people who replied in my thread that convinced me to go myself. You were right.
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9/10
One of the feel good teen comedy movies of 2008
robertallenandersonjr9 April 2008
Drillbit Taylor was such an awesome movie. It was extremely funny. I pretty much laughed throughout the whole movie. The three kids in this movie made everyone laugh in the theatre. Then having Owen Wilson team up with the kids that just makes the movie all the better. The acting in this was pretty good especially out of the kids. At first going to see this I thought the acting would be just okay. Instead it was really good though. The messages in this were pretty good. The movie was trying to state a point to you that if you tell the truth no matter what it is, you will get farther in life. Owen Wilson in this movie just kept lying to everyone especially the kids. At first you dislike Owen Wilsons character. Then he gets to know the kids and they teach him a lot about life. This was a great teen comedy movie in my opinion. I liked the idea of having Owen Wilson play a homeless man at first trying to make money. The thing that was bad about him though is that he did mean things for the money. This was also a pretty cute movie. The reason it was a little cute was because one of the kids liked a girl in his high school. Most of the time that always helps in a movie. I thought that this movie was well worth your money to see it. Another good thing about this movie was the idea of having such a mean bully picking on the kids. I thought Owen Wilsons character made a great bodyguard for this movie. Overall Drillbit Taylor was very funny and a great movie to see for teenagers especially.
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Drilbit Taylor Will Save The Kids
Chrysanthepop5 September 2008
'Drilbit Taylor' is a teen movie that revolves around three highschool students being bullied and in order to protect themselves they plan to hire a bodyguard. The film has its own charm and is quite likable thanks mostly to Wilson's chemistry with the three teens. Another thing I liked about this movie is that it wasn't overloaded with sex and crudeness which seems to be a forced compulsory requirement of every teen movie these days (a recent example being the awful 'Superbad'). The teen actors, Nate Hartley and Troy Gentile are very good. Hartley particularly gives a natural performance. Owen Wilson uses his superb comic timing and does nothing short of great. What I didn't like about 'Drilbit Taylor' is that it tends to go unnecessarily over the top with some sequences and the fight scene in the end is a little too violent. The bullying scenes were meant to be funny (at least that's the impression I got given the background score and the way it was executed) but with me they had the opposite effect and I wonder how kids who are actually bullied would feel after watching such scenes being used as comic relief. However on the other hand, it might be uplifting to them as the point of the movie was to stand up for oneself and his friends. Anyway, 'Drilbit Taylor' is fun entertainment. Not the best of its kind but still good enough.
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7/10
Presenting the life of the new and awkward
absforachilles7 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Take one part Owen Wilson and three parts high school freshman and you have a clever comedy. The story tells of three high school freshman just starting their first day, hoping that they could generate a fresh start. However, all turns sour when one boy stands up for each other and all three become the ridicule of the school and targets for two very rough school bullies. To avoid further ridicule, the boys hope to hire a body guard to protect them from their bullies. Barely living by day, Owen Wilson comes into the picture and uses his wits to charm the boys for the job. Though at first his intentions are for his own benefit, he later grows a heartfelt concern for the boys. Throguhout the movie we see a gentle chemistry with Owen and the boys. I actually enjoyed the movie, because it had nice humor and strangely some sort of plot that did not make you feel the movie was dragging. Owen Wilson adds his own flavor to the film by being both a new high school vigilante and a charming gentleman for a fellow teacher. This movie combined subtle comedy, romance and friendship that sends a positive message surpassing the social people in high school. I would say this is well worth the watch, and if your an Owen Wilson fan, be prepared for a smooth ride.
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8/10
Just Saw a Sneak Preview - VERY FUNNY!!
judemariettaga26 February 2008
I fully intended to not like this movie. I received free tickets from work and took my two boys because I thought they would like it. Owen Wilson was funny and sweet (and looks pretty good naked!) I didn't recognize the three young boys but they were great in their roles. Owen Wilson and Josh Peck were the only two actors I recognized. But I can see the other three boys being cast in other movies like this. They were believable in their roles (as much as the idea of kid's hiring bodyguards could be, on par with missing the plane and staying HOME ALONE. I was pleasantly surprised. All of the actors were great and I was surprised at how the time flew. The ending surprised me it wasn't what I expected at all! I would definitely recommend this movie. Enjoy!
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School Days
tedg22 June 2008
Gosh. Forget that this was a flop, and you simply cannot enjoy it in any way. And forget that you simply cannot watch this desperately lost character without reflecting on the actor.

Instead follow this as another in the Hughes-inspired genre, where the story matters less that the cleanliness of the stereotypes. That's really what this is all about. It innovates not at all in the whiny simpy Jew, and earnest fat kid, and that's too bad because we could well be rid of them. But it does innovate a bit in the bully (who is here not a jock), the love interest (here a bespeckled Asian girl), and of course with the Wilson character.

Its in this experiment that the film relies and fails. There's this oft-used balance between mental unbalance and the fantasy of the ideal. Depp does this well, with perhaps the touchstone being his Brando-inspired Don Juan DeMarco. I may have seen a score of popular movies in the last year that use this. My own central reference is "They Might Be Giants."

But in order for this to work, you have to yearn for the fantasy yourself. You want K-Pax. You want romance, clarity, purity. I suppose it could work for fidelity and family as they try here, but not by the route they chose. I guess they simply banked on Owen being inspired and charming us independently of the character box they put him in. That's what the love interest here is for: to be our surrogate watcher, one who accepts.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
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8/10
Loved it! Hilarious!
BrnzReviews26 May 2021
I really enjoyed this movie, being a man who was bullied in his life its very relatable to want to hire an adult to basically beat them up in the worse way possible but the best way you can imagine it, let's be real bullies are awful but the message comes across very clear in this movie, at the end of the day you have to stand up for yourself.

Perfect movie, great script, great cast, great directing, editing, writing, all in all its the whole package.

Highly recommend, one of Wilsons gems!
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7/10
A droll bit of fluff, is Drillbit; most likely you will enjoy it
inkblot1126 March 2008
Two friends, Wade (Nate Hartley) and T-Dog (Troy Gentile) are about to enter the ninth grade. As they are both rather nerdy, their fondest wish is to simply "fit in" and snag friends and girlfriends. But, on the first day of school, their dream is roundly shattered. You see, there is a senior at the school, Filkins (Alex Frost) who lives to torture those individuals who, unhappily, catch his eye. Since Wade and T-Dog have showed up in the same shirt, he promptly buttons their tops together, in a tangle, for his amusement. It is only the beginning. When Wade rescues a third outcast, Emmitt, from Filkins clutches, the big bully makes the threesome his pet victims. Then, T-Dog gets the idea that if they find a bodyguard, preferably with martial art skills, they can throw Filkins for a loop. Answering the boys' ad is one Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson). Although he informs the boys that he was once in the army and skilled in combat, he fails to tell them that he is a homeless panhandler who is taking the job so that he can pocket enough money to make the bus fare to Canada. Posing as a substitute teacher, Drillbit does keep an eye on the boys, especially with the help of a walkie-talkie. There is even a pretty teacher, Lisa (Leslie Mann) who falls hard for the now button-down Drillbit. But, how long can such a scheme last and does Filkins have some more tricks up his sleeve? This is a droll bit of fluff, this Drillbit, and most likely you will enjoy it. Young boys, especially, will probably clamor for tickets but, parents, do note the PG-13 rating and the description which follows it. This is not a family film, exactly, and there are quite a few elements that will frost someone's cookies. That is not to say the film is not very funny and true to life, for it is. There are some great lines, such as the one where Drillbit notes "if you take away their video games, they might choose to read a book or if you garnish their ipods, they could learn to play the piano". The young cast is great, with Hartley and Gentile demonstrating their natural comic abilities and Frost, a dead ringer for Anthony Perkins, delivering an appropriately loathsome turn as the bully. Mann is always a welcome addition to any film, for she has looks, talent, and an arresting voice. As for Wilson, it is doubtful that anyone could have played this role any better. When a film requires a sun-soaked slacker with a giant heart, he is the man to call, absolutely. Then, too, the production looks good, with well-chosen costumes and sets, and the screenplay is inventive and humorous. No, it is not the greatest thing since slice-bread and it may fall into oblivion at some point. But, there is truly much to like about Drillbit and its cheery tale will entertain most folks who sit down for a viewing.
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8/10
I actually liked it
krabbypatty1019 March 2008
I'm one of those "indie-films-or-bust" type of people (with my favorite movies ranging from Amelie to the Darjeeling Limited), so when I saw the preview for Drillbit Taylor, it was an immediate turn-off for me. I saw it as boob, nuts, and ass jokes (aka crude teenage humor) and I was not excited to see it. However, an opportunity arose to see the movie well before it came out and I took the chance to see it.

To my great surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie to its fullest. Sure Owen Wilson is funny, but the kids stole the show. The crude humor was left to a minimum and the funniest lines were the really subtle ones that almost everyone missed. This movie had heart and a good message (which you don't normally see in mainstream teenage movies *excluding Juno*). Although I know it's probably not gonna make huge headlines, I feel like this movie needs more recognition than it's gonna get. I want to see this movie go big, and I'm excited to see what people say about it. So take it from me, it's funny and it's not disappointing.
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3/10
It was alright
Smells_Like_Cheese23 July 2008
When I first saw the trailer for Drillbit Taylor, I thought it actually looked like fun and would be a cool movie, but I decided to save the money and wait for the rental on it, because it was getting some bad reviews. So I did rent it, watched it last night, I'm actually glad I waited for the rental because while I didn't hate the movie, I wasn't a big fan of it. I think because the story was just beyond unrealistic, I know it's a comedy, and I always do lighten up for a movie, but this just seemed ridicules. These boys who are getting picked on, I mean, they're not just getting picked on they're are getting brutally humiliated and somehow no one notices? Not to mention that a homeless guy can just walk into a school wearing a tie and he is assumed to be a substitute and no one asks questions? This script must have been written by someone who was drunk.

Three kids at school are getting brutally picked on by two bullies, they're getting hit constantly, being made fun of, getting stuffed into trophy cabinets, and even getting hung from doors; they've had it, they decide to hire a body guard to protect them. They meet Drillbit Taylor, an actual homeless guy who is trying to get to Canada, so he's ripping off these kids in any way he can to get there, but he promises them that he's a great body guard and will teach them how to fight. Of course madness ensues, he ends up liking the kids, the story speaks for itself, I'm sorry.

The movie is unoriginal, the comedy is alright, the actors, I wasn't impressed with the casting. I just feel like this movie could have been so much more, it just seems so beyond insane to me to believe a lot of these situations. Not to mention, the bully, he was kinda puny, and I was supposed to believe him as a bully who can kick anyone's butt? I know that everyone is going to tell me to lighten up with this movie, but honestly, I feel like it did waste my time, it was predictable and not comedy gold, I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone to be honest.

3/10
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6/10
Wilson's charm keeps "Drillbit" afloat
farmer-josh215 April 2008
Drillbit Taylor is the latest Apatow/Frat Pack movie. It isn't great and it isn't awful. Rogen's screenplay disappointed me, he did such a good job on Superbad. This movie will be compared to Superbad and rightfully so. It basically serves as a prelude to Superbad. Owen Wilson does his usual. Wilson's charm and improv skills keep this movie afloat. I think that if this movie was rated R it would have fared better with reviews and box office performance. Overall though its a must see for Frat Pack fans and Wilson fans. I also wish Owen well in his upcoming projects and i hope he is well on the road to recovery.

6/10
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4/10
Drillbit Taylor horribly unfunny
SnoopyStyle23 February 2014
Wade (Nate Hartley) and Ryan (Troy Gentile) are two nerdy friends getting bullied in high school by Filkins (Alex Frost) and Ronnie (Josh Peck). The only bigger nerd in school is Emit (David Dorfman) and the two friends can't get rid of him. Wade likes Brooke (Valerie Tian), but it's hopeless. He gets the idea to hire a bodyguard. Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson) is a happy amiable homeless guy. He needs the money and gets the idea to lie to the kids.

The bullying is way over the top. The kids aren't particularly cute or appealing. The adults are incredibly clueless. In reality, most teachers know who the trouble makers are. The only thing saving this is the chemistry between the three kids. Drillbit Taylor's lying is horribly unfunny. He really sinks this movie. I can't believe that the kids buy into everything he says. If the movie concentrates on the boys and less on Drillbit, the movie may actually work.
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Bullies against geeks…once again
RainDogJr10 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
About two months ago I watched and liked the film "School for Scoundrels" that is a remake of a 1960 British film with the same title. I write that because this film has a very similar theme with a sort of a teacher giving lessons for stop being a loser and face your own problems. In this case we watch how three geeks (Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile and David Dorfman) are having a real bad time, in their fist days of high school, thanks to two bullies (Alex Frost and Josh Peck) so they are looking for some help. They are going to find that help in Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), a vagabond whose dream is to live in Canada so to get the money he works as a bodyguard for the teenagers saying to them that he has military skills. For me this character is the funniest part in all the film, especially when he enters as the substitute teacher and suddenly becomes a doctor and meets his new girlfriend.

Anyway, I mention the fact that watched the film "School for Scoundrels" because, in a way, is the perfect way to describe the point that this film is nothing new but also is predictable, clichéd and with a weak cast, except for a good and funny work of Owen Wilson. But after all "Drillbit Taylor" have some really funny parts and is entertaining so if you don't have anything better to watch, kind of hard, I recommend that watch this one eating a lot of popcorn.
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Not so entertaining
Gordon-1128 September 2008
This film is about three boys, who got bullied in high school, recruiting a bodyguard to help them ward off the bullies.

I was hoping "Drillbit Taylor" is as funny as the previous Owen Wilson films. After watching it, I am disappointed. In the first half, Owen Wilson looks tired, wooden and half hearted all the time. His eyes are constantly red as if he has been crying for hours. It seriously lacked energy and magic, which is unlike the usual on screen Owen Wilson. He looked as if he was depressed. Maybe he was.

The script is not particularly engaging either, and the jokes are not so funny. Apart from some one liners, I did not find "Drillbit Taylor" funny or entertaining.
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7/10
Superbad: Episode One
Baldrick4421 March 2008
Drillbit Taylor comes from the quite remarkable team that brought 40 Year Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad and Walk Hard. While this movie doesn't quite live up to their ideals, it still is an enjoyable 2 hours.

The plot revolves around 3 students and their horrifying treatment at the hands of a couple of uber-bullies. Enter Drillbit Taylor ( Owen Wilson )- a man who is basically a bum who just wants to at first fleece the kids so that he go to Canada to start anew. However the more he gets entangled in the story, the more he begins to care for the 3 kids.

The plot is incredibly predictable and doesn't really go anywhere amazing. The three kids themselves too are very similar to the three kids from Superbad; just younger. Whether this was a conscious decision or not, it sorta makes the movie have to stand in comparison with Superbad and unfortunately it doesn't have Superbad's black humour. What it does have though is some nice little comic set pieces, particularly in the middle of the film which are helped by Owen Wilson, who seems to be able to play his part effortlessly.

This is a movie that will never set the world on fire, but what it does do is raise a laugh or two without offending anyone ( quite new ground for Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen ). For their first real go at a family film, it does OK.
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9/10
Funny but with a nice little touch of heart
KathyRI29 March 2008
If you like Owen Wilson, Seth Rogen, "Knocked Up," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and other movies directed by Judd Apatow, then you'll probably like "Drillbit Taylor." It's quite funny and it even has a little bit of heart.

The young actors who play the 3 freshman high-school boys are absolutely perfect in their parts. The curly-haired husky-build young boy is like a miniature Seth Rogen. He must have written that part with himself in mind. The entire cast is excellent.

My friend and I were both quite pleasantly surprised, as some of the reviews haven't been the greatest, but if you enjoy watching Owen Wilson, give this one a try.
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6/10
Doing your own knockoffs
Chris Knipp26 March 2008
This comedy about three nerdy high school freshman who hire a low budget bodyguard to ward off a bully reads a lot like a down-market knockoff of the Judd Apatow franchises (note the plural), but it's actually got the Apatow imprimatur (he produced; his collaborator Seth Rogen co-scripted). Director Brill has strong links with Adam Sandler (he directed two of Sandler's less impressive comedies), and in fact, what's coming next is an "Untitled Judd Apatow/Adam Sandler Project." All of which unfortunately tells us what 'Walk Hard' already clearly signaled: notwithstanding the success of '40 Year Old Virgin,' 'Knocked Up,' and 'Superbad,' what Apatow and his posse are into more than anything is flooding the market--quantity, not quality. Stephen Holden of the NYTimes suggests we see this one as "part of the Apatow discount line." Unfortunately when you cut the quality in comedy you also lose laughs. Since the main actors are talented and appealing, this project has to be seen as a terrible waste--despite the box office and the paychecks for those concerned. Sometimes in the popular, as in the fine, arts, the clunkers are the necessary stepping-stones to the good stuff. But you don't have to waste your time looking at them.

Drawing from TV's "Freaks and Geeks" for the kids; from Renoir's 'Boudu' or Mazursky's remake of it for Owen Wilson's character, the homeless charlatan bodyguard; and from Tony Bill's Eighties youth flick (and Matt Dillon vehicle) 'My Bodyguard' for the interface between the two, 'Drillbit Taylor' has a touch of sadism and too much reliance on slapstick knock-downs for its laughs. There's a warm heart somewhere here, but it gets lost in the uneasy subject matter and the haste.

Once again as in 'Superbad' the three-nerd pattern of "Freaks and Geeks" is followed: one boy is tall, skinny and bespectacled (Wade, Nate Hartley), another fat and curly haired (Ryan AKA T-Bone, Troy Gentile) and the third small with braces (Emit, David Dorfman). This time they seem a little young to be in high school. (They're all good, and newcomer Nate Hartley is appealing.) In the superior 'Superbad' the central trio seemed a tad old. Only in what now seems the Apatow golden age of "Freaks and Geeks" did the kids seem just right, and in the TV series format their characters also had room to breathe, instead of having to rely on instant back-stories and sound-bite parents.

Ironically, the bully, Filkins, is played by Alex Frost, a young actor who got his start playing one of the bullied boys who turns mass murderer in Van Sant's 'Elephant'. Perhaps Frost has a little of the sociopath in his eyes, but his face still looks kind--not that this movie really gives him such complexity. He's barely more than a looming physical threat.

The plot has romance and triumph-of-the-underdog elements, but also becomes a sort of odd buddy picture. Drillbit, actually a deserter, pretends to be an Army ranger with commando skills but quickly emerges as mostly talk, and really no more aggressive by nature than Wade. He avoids confronting Filkins at first by taking the boys aside and training them out of school. His encouragement makes him become a kind of big brother to them--or at least to Wade; the other two boys are scantily developed and it's only he who becomes an accidental hero and gets the girl. This in parallel fashion also happens to Drillbit. In the jerky, meandering plot both are cowards who discover their hidden tough side under pressure.

This role fits Owen Wilson just fine, but without really good material and a strong foil such as Vince Vaughan or Ben Stiller (or his cohorts in 'The Darjeeling Limited') he comes across as somewhat limp. His very ease in line readings and all too natural charm only contribute to the feeling that this whole affair was thrown together in haste.

Bullies are always gratuitously mean and Filkins has no motivation. But if not about to become a mass murderer, he at least may be horribly lonely because his parents live in Hong Kong. His character isn't worked out--one of the movie's various missed opportunities, since simply punishing the villain and sending him away ill befits the story's good-heartedness; and his transformation could have been funny as well as appealing. The showdown comes at a party Filkins gives--odd in itself, since bullies aren't social organizers. Wade, Emit and T-Bone go there to kick ass, but the confrontation before the big audience of kids at the party is a scene from another kind of movie. It shows the elements Seth Rogan and Company have cobbled together don't mesh. Really now, how do you make a comedy about a bully?

Nor could one believe for a minute the plot line wherein Drillbit successfully poses as a substitute teacher,"Dr. Illbit," saying as long as you carry a coffee cup passing as faculty is a snap. Not for the first time the movie fudges, and before long he's teaching lots of classes including gym (where he is conveniently able to torment the bully and his sidekick without reprisals). Wearing clothes from the boy's houses he becomes quite a dandy--much too elegant for a public high school. In the faculty room, the sexiest woman teacher pounces on him--leading to a psychobabble subplot about her weakness for men who are losers, but no development of the relationship.

Drillbit feeds the boys a variety of unrelated tips: learn to take punches (ignore the pain); improvise weaponry (an excuse to steal valuables from one boy's house--and for another subplot); have your pals hold you back so you can seem violent without attacking (this one backfires badly); pretend to be sympathetic toward your aggressors. . .and so on. This incoherent sequence is further evidence of careless improvising. Nonetheless Drillbit would be a genuine comic creation--his false bravado even evokes Falstaff's motley colors--if only the movie had been made with more care.
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6/10
Way too ridiculous at times, but still very watchable
KineticSeoul15 March 2011
When I first saw this movie in theater when it came out, I thought it was a pretty entertaining comedy. All I can say that it does not deserve the bashing it's been getting, it far from being a believable comedy and isn't one of the best comedy of the year. But it's still a enjoyable comedy despite the ridiculousness of everything in this movie. The factor that made this movie watchable is that it just doesn't really get bored. Even for a comedy that takes place in a high school, it's just ridiculous because the set up isn't ridiculous, but the direction is very ridiculous. The story is about 3 students that just started high school who are the biggest geeks, hire a bodyguard since they constantly gets bullied in a comedic manner. And as the movie progresses they start to bond a bit. The dialogue in this is pretty childish but didn't think it was really cringe worthy, in fact I think the negative rating is from how childish and immature the the direction of this movie is. But those stuff just wasn't all that bad in this movie or got me annoyed that much. Yes this movie has a lot of flaws but the main thing is that it's entertaining and very watchable, just isn't anything amazing.

6.4/10
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Drilled Into Cinematic Unconsciousness.
tfrizzell7 June 2008
Three freshmen in high school (Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, and David Dorfman) combine their meager resources together to hire the titled character (natural-born loser Owen Wilson) to combat a bully (Alex Frost) who seems bent on making their lives living hells. Totally passable time-waster designed for pre-teen boys has little going for it. Wilson does all he can with material which is way beneath his talents, but everyone else seems to be going through the motions. Leslie Mann is wasted as Owen's love interest, a teacher at the high school the boys attend. All here has been seen and done for years in better films. Hopelessly feels like that 1980s-styled fluff where movies came a dime a dozen. 2 stars out of 5.
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9/10
Hoo-rah
srloco6 September 2021
Come on how do people not like this.

I guess people who never had a high school bully wouldn't understand it.
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