Old School

PLOT:

Mitch (Luke Wilson), the protagonist, comes back from a business trip early and is shocked to find out that his girlfriend Heidi (Juliette Lewis) takes part in orgies with a variety of people. She claims it’s purely sexual but nevertheless Mitch doesn’t want to continue the relationship.

Mitch encounters his high school crush, Nicole (Ellen Pompeo), at his friend Frank’s (Will Ferrell) wedding party. However, he doesn’t make a good impression with her in his inebriated state by spilling hot coffee on her. After his break-up with his girlfriend, Mitch goes house-hunting. He finds a great house located near the campus of his alma mater.

Mitch’s other best friend Bernard (Vince Vaughn) throws a party for Mitch so that he can get his mind off his ex-girlfriend. Called Mitch-a-palooza, Snoop Dogg and Kokane perform Eric B & Rakim’s track Paid in Full at the large house party. The party is a huge success and also puts Mitch and his friends at the top of the college social scene. During the party, Frank gets drunk and goes streaking through the neighborhood and is found by his new wife and her friends, straining their relationship.

The next morning, the trio meet Dean Pritchard (Jeremy Piven). The Dean is a childhood acquaintance of the three men, but since he was the butt of most of their pranks, his actions throughout the movie are vindictively rooted. Pritchard happily informs them that the house is specifically designated for social services and community housing. Therefore, Mitch, Frank, and Bernard must either move out or fulfill the Dean’s criteria in order to keep Mitch’s house. For this reason, it is Bernard’s idea to start a fraternity that is open to anyone. Although Mitch is initially reluctant to accept the notion of turning his house into a fraternity, he is essentially obliged to agree with the idea. Mitch gets coined “the Godfather”. He still tries to keep his work life and fraternity life apart. Regardless, he is approached by countless people even at work who want to become members of his fraternity. The fraternity is an outlet for the stress and boredom that is associated with the monotonous nine-to-five lifestyle for many members.

However, the guys’ dreams are constrained. The death of one of the fraternity members certainly doesn’t help matters,along with Frank and his wife divorcing which means that Frank is forced to live with Mitch in his fraternity, but the main obstacle is still Dean Pritchard. The fraternity is boarded up by the Dean because he claims the group violated an assortment of university policies. He also claims that the students who participated in the non-sanctioned fraternity are subject to expulsion. Nonetheless, Mitch finds out that the group has the right to bypass this legality by completing a series of activities that range from academics and athletics to community service, debate and school spirit. The men are able to complete all of the activities successfully but since the deceased member of the fraternity was still on their roster, the group’s averages were brought down. Consequently, Dean Pritchard tells them the university’s decision stands.

Frank is able to obtain a tape that reveals the Dean bribing a female student with admission to Columbia Law School (a promise the Dean happily broke when she confronted him after the school rejects her) since she is head of the student board that approved of the fraternity’s campus status. Accordingly, the Dean’s credibility is destroyed. With this fact, it is hard for the university to withhold their decision and they decide to reinstate the fraternity’s charter. In addition, the fraternity’s old house is replaced with Dean Pritchard’s house. Despite Bernard and Mitch withdrawing from the fraternity, Frank maintains his ties and persists with his leadership in the organization.

We then see Mark (Craig Kilborn) (Nicole’s ex-Boy friend) driving his car off of a bridge and onto ex-Dean Pritchard who was fishing below. As the smoke from the wreckage rises into the air, an image appears of Blue (Patrick Cranshaw) in heaven playing a piano and singing “Dust in the Wind”.

REVIEW:

I tend to love Will Ferrell movies, even if he only has a bit or supporting role. However, this one only gets a like out of me, and that is mostly because I can relate to the fraternity aspect.

The three friends’ relationship isn’t given enough screentime. I’m not saying there needed to be a scene with them sitting around crying and sharing their feelings, but just a little more background and why it is they are still close is all I ask for.

Leah Remini could have been given more screen time. When will casting directors get the picture, if you’re going to cast an obvious hot woman in a role, then give her as much screen time as possible. The same can be said for Elisha Cuthbert.

Jeremy Piven is one of the highlights of the film, and does an excellent job as the “evil” dean. Has anyone noticed that almost every movie that has a dean in it, they’re the bad guy?

The biggest drawback to this film, above all its ups and downs, is that nothign comes as a surprise. If you think it’s goingot happen, then it happens.

Even though I like this film, I can’t recommend it unless you happen to catch it on TV, otherwise don’t waste your time. Of course if you’re a fan of one of the stars, then you may think otherwise.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars