Frathouse Comedy Makes Good... Review on Old School Movie

Stars: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn

Since directing that lacklustre American Pie spin-off, Road Trip, Todd Phillips has had to work uphill with most audiences.

Indeed, on the surface this film seems quite run-of-the-mill, with a largely standard script to it's name. But when you assemble a sterling cast committed to their characters, Old School leaps off the page & onto the silver screen in rather impressive fashion.

Taking up the lead here is Luke Wilson (Legally Blonde I), with his buddies Will Ferrell (Zoolander), & Vince Vaughn (Swingers), each of which bring a lot of extra punch to the dialogue. Old School has real staying power by virtue of the fact the audience feel a part of the madness & mayhem --- director Phillips does a solid job of involving them throughout.

In support are some excellent performers, including --- among others --- Ellen Pompeo (Catch Me If You Can), & Jeremy Piven (Very Bad Things). The concept of a trio of thirty-something's running onto mid-life crises & coping by starting a college fraternity is a decent one, but it's really the stars who pull this one that extra notch up, particularly Ferrell, whose bumbling idiot, ''Frank'', proves a constant anchor for the laughs.

This one was also executive produced by the legendary Ivan Reitman, & has an amusing cameo from Seann-William Scott, star of the American Pie franchise, to look out for.

Ultimately, Old School was never going to set the world on fire, but it does pass as ninety minutes of often hilarious, if simplistic, fanfare.