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School For Scoundrels (2006) DVD Review
School For Scoundrels (2006) DVD Credits:
School For Scoundrels (2006) Directed by:
Todd Phillips
School For Scoundrels (2006) Written by:
Scot Armstrong, Todd Phillips
School For Scoundrels (2006) Cast:
Jon Heder, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jacinda Barrett, Dan Fogler, Sarah Silverman
School For Scoundrels (2006) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
School For Scoundrels (2006) DVD Release Date:
13th February 2007
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School For Scoundrels (2006) Synopsis:

In SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, Jon Heder plays Roger, a beleaguered New York City meter maid who is plagued by anxiety and low self-esteem. In order to overcome his feelings of inadequacy, Roger enrolls in a top-secret confidence-building class taught by the suavely underhanded Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton). Aided by his assistant, Lesher (Michael Clarke Duncan), Dr. P uses unorthodox, often dangerous methods, but he guarantees results: Employ his techniques and you will unleash your inner lion. Surrounded by a band of misfit classmates – Walsh (Matt Walsh), who’s dying to move out of mother’s basement; Diego (Horatio Sanz), a punching bag for his hen-pecker of a wife; and Eli (Todd Louiso), a shy guy just looking for female companionship – Roger’s confidence grows and he makes his way to the head of the class, even finding the courage to ask out his longtime crush, Amanda (Jacinda Barrett). But Roger quickly discovers that star students have a way of catapulting Dr. P’s competitive side into high gear. Soon enough, the teacher sets out to infiltrate and destroy Roger’s personal and professional life. Nothing is off limits for Dr. P, not even the object of Roger’s affection. In order to show Amanda Dr. P’s true colors, Roger must rally his new friends and find a way to beat the master at his own game.

School For Scoundrels (2006) DVD Review:

There was an article in the Los Angeles Times the other day about romantic comedies, and how they seem to be dying out in the theaters. I would have to agree with this. The new romantic comedy is a hybrid which mixes in an odd vulgarity to it. The new romantic comedy certainly still has elements of romance which are sweet and a predictable ending, but there are far more obstacles and language. Recent examples of this are The Wedding Crashers, The 40-Year Old Virgin, There’s Something About Mary or Trust the Man. Gone are the sweet and kind romantic comedies starring Sandra Bullock and what seems to be popular now are the raunchier comedies, mixed with a little more romance than necessary. School of Scoundrels is the latest example, which is even further enhanced by the “unrated ballbuster edition” which manages to squeeze many coarse words into the dialogue when it counts.

Jon Heder of the Napoleon Dynamite fame plays Roger, a pathetic pushover who can’t even ask a girl out without passing out. He is given a card from a friend (David Cross) which enrolls him in a confidence class for pathetic and meek men taught by a rough and foul mouthed egomaniac played by Billy Bob Thornton. When Roger starts doing well in the class and even manages to get a date with an attractive neighbor, the teacher starts competing with him, even for the attention of his attractive neighbor.

Jon Heder might have been great in Napoleon Dynamite, but he is still just slightly unbelievable in anything dramatic. He lucked out with the success of that role and it is a blessing he isn’t playing supporting roles. He nails the pushover part of the film, but the confident portion seemed a little bit less than convincing. School for Scoundrels is filled with many other great supporting roles which distract from the obvious flaws. Sarah Silverman plays the roommate of the attractive neighbor at her load-mouthed best. Michael Clarke Duncan is the assistant in the class and Ben Stiller even has a quick cameo.

There should be no surprises, because it is a remake (banking on the fact that too few Americans see foreign films), but it is in the film’s use of audience’s preconceptions based on the similar comedy Anger Management that School for Scoundrels manages to rustle up a few twists. This is another area of the film which is closer to the comedy than the romance, and the ending manages to be as ridiculous as possible, although the DVD contains an alternate ending which shies closer to the traditional romantic ending you might expect to see. I actually prefer the alternate ending to the theatrical one. The theatrical ending is far more absurd and filled with slapstick humor and implausible situations while the alternate ending is simpler and more romantic without all of the shenanigans. It also gives Amanda half a brain and able to figure things out for herself.

Along with the alternate ending, the DVD has a gag reel, which isn’t great, a making of featurette, theatrical trailer and a commentary with writer/director Todd Philips and Writer Scot Armstrong.

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School For Scoundrels (2006) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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