DRILLBIT TAYLOR (2008)

Directed By: Steven Brill 
Written By: Kristofor Brown & Seth Rogen 
 Story By: John Hughes, Kristofer Brown & Seth Rogen 
Cinematography By: Fred Murphy 
Editor: Brady Heck & Thomas J. Nordberg 

Cast: Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley, Ian Roberts, Lisa Ann Walter, Beth Littleford, Lisa Lampanelli, David Koechner, Matt Walsh, David Dorfman, Shaun Weiss, Alex Frost, Josh Peck, Leslie Mann, Stephen Root, Danny McBride, Tichina Arnold, Cedric Yarbrough, Robert Musgrave, Rance Howard, Steve Bannos, Adam Baldwin, Frank Whaley, Chuck Liddell, Matt Besser, Kevin Hart, Jerry Minor

Homeless veteran Bob 'Drillbit' Taylor manages to enjoy life anyhow and even saves some cash for his dream, an 'all-paid' move to Alaska, even if that may take many years. His dream comes within reach when clever nerd Wade, has fat friend Ryan 'T-dog' and cocky shrimp Jim, all new to junior high-school, are bullied so badly by emancipated Filkins and his buddies that they advertise for a bodyguard. Only Drillbit seems affordable and not crazy, so he's hired and drains their pocket-money and home content. He's clueless how to protect them but gives them (bogus) self-defense classes.

I didn't dislike this film

As much as many critics apparently did. The film has the same spirit as the man who came up with the story John Hughes under the alias Edmund Dante's. (The Count on Monte Cristo reference) With a few modern twist that leans towards cute at times.

A friend of Judd Apatow at Paramount told him he had a treatment that John Hughes was never able to finish a script on. He asked Seth Rogen to take a look at it. They made the movie in the tradition of a John Hughes teen comedy.

John Hughes' final film as a writer before his death in 2009. As in Beethoven and Maid in Manhattan, he requested his name be removed (since so much was changed between script and movie) and is credited as Edmond Dantes, title character of Le Comte de Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père. The first (and only) time Seth Rogen has collaborated with someone other than Evan Goldberg, his regular writing partner, on a screenplay

The film is entertaining and entirely predictable, but it feels like an r-rated comedy that was stuck in Pg-13 jail. Wearing it's shackles constantly since the movie is aimed at teenagers and even though it stars Owen Wilson. The kids are more the stars as they ate center stage. It's like the circus Owen Wilson I the star attraction and headliner, by that's only 30 - 45 minutes of the show. The other performers have the rest of show and have to keep the audience entertained and on the edges of their seats. While this film isn't that long, you catch my drift

This film would have been perfectly in tune had it been made in the 80' or 90's big shock since he story Is by John Hughes saint of teen movies and later family films. The reason it seems today when you hear about bullying you often think of extreme violence, schools shot up senseless or accidental murder or revenge or just having a laugh that somehow went too far. In this film while the bullying is ruthless in this ion it still seem to have an innocence or artificial quality that is nostalgic bit hard to laugh at and forget due to recent events

This film for me is all star extravaganza as most of the roles are filled with comedic alumni. I have enjoyed countless times live or on television in movies or on stage. So I am glad to see them which brings me to the cast all pitch perfect Nate Hartley who Is so skinny, Small and delicate yet funny and. Troy Gentile who already seems to have he chops and delivery of a fire comedic star. Special mention must be made for Alex frost as Filkins, the main bully. He has an innocent look about Him that he can run psycho he next minute then go back to being harmless his performance is the perfect example of the sociopath as a young man a terror hit can be charming to cover up for himself and know what he is doing is wrong. It's interesting that he also played one of the teen killers in ELEPHANT. I hope he doesn't get typecasted as I feel he has range and talent.

Owen Wilson is good here not great it seems to me he Is very low energy here not at the tip of his witty best. Mr. Wilson is a interesting leading man he is usually at his best when he has a co-star to banter with or battle verbally if not that it's like the Dean Martin - Jerry Lewis movie only Owen's there to tell the jokes and his co-stars like Jackie Chan are there to kick add. Then like most young stars they decided to give him an action film on his own that didn't quite work (behind enemy lines) he is the odd leading man he has character actor looks, but leading man roles. He is a star that you can slip into any type of film he has done them all except for sci-fi though he primarily stays in comedy. --I even enjoyed the cameo by Adam Baldwin who seemed to be reprising his role from the film MY BODYGUARD. Even wearing the same jacket.

If he has no one to really riff or jam with, it's like leaving him stranded he doesn't have anything really to do he turns bland. It's like eating dip without any chips.

Now I must admit I am a little bias as a Apatow/Rogen fan. My judgement can be clouded at times, but I am giving you my honest opinion as best As I can.

As it plays now the film feels a bit watered down. One of the biggest flaws is just how violent and brutal the violence is against these kids. Who still look too young To be high shook freshman.

I enjoyed this film it moved at a brisk pace. It plays like a feature length sitcom. It's cute but Definitely rental

 Grade: C+