Old School (2003): Dir: Todd Phillips / Cast: Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Juliette Lewis, Jeremy Piven: Plays like a followup to the superior National Lampoon's Animal House celebrating the decay of human decency. It is a comedy about carefree memories of generations gone by. Luke Wilson arrives home from a business trip and discovers his girlfriend engaged in an orgy. He moves out and finds a place near university campus. Vince Vaughn runs a stereo store and believes that he has the answers to their problems. They will start a fraternity and relive years gone by. Will Ferrell is their recently married friend who streaks naked through the neighbourhood after a drunken celebration at the frat house. Directed by Todd Phillips in the same vein as his Road Trip. Wilson plays off the doormat disposition while Vaughn throws out one-liners. Ferrell steals the film with a hilarious performance but we sympathize as he gradually wrecks his marriage. Juliette Lewis plays Wilson's ex girlfriend in a role that is hardly broad. Jeremy Piven plays the young snotty Dean but he has none of the comic conviction of a Dean Wormer. The humour drains when the climax involves settling down and studying. In National Lampoon's Animal House the fraternity is kicked off campus and they wreck the home coming parade. Recalling past events deserves more than a hopeless outlook on life. Score: 7 ½ / 10
Review of Old School
