User reviews

Much like the tradition of the raunchy flicks of the 80s, Old School encompasses the age old tradition of tactless and tasteless film creation. Buy the oddity of the situation, this is one of those films I can tolerate. Mid-life malaise couldn't have been drawn better in the lives of Mitch, Frank and Beanie. Men who serve no purpose in society, especially to their significant others. But that's the significance of the frat house. No, it isn't about being drunk and hitting on 19-year-old girls, its about reaffirming your role in society and making the inner soul feel good and relaxed. So, say what you want about the random nudity and cussing, this film is a life affirming film for all men hitting their 30s.

This is one of the movies that started off the "Frat Pack". Although not consistently funny, the movie does have its iconic moments that can be compared to later comedies.

It had great chemistry between the actors and quotable lines. Sean William Scott's cameo was one of the funniest scenes in the film. Will Ferrell definitely had the best scenes.

Caught a preview showing last night, and I'm a little surprised myself to report that the aptly named Old School is actually a welcome return to a formula all but abandoned by Hollywood for much of the past couple of decades - that of the unapologetic, raucous, cheap laughs for cheap-laughs sake, male-bonding fraternity picture. It is Animal House. It is Porky's. It is every cliche one comes to expect from such a picture - from wild frat house parties to girls wrestling in KY jelly. And, strangely enough, it delivers... with a good cast and a fresh twist. For the group of guys that assemble to start the fraternity that is the heart of Old School are all in their early to mid thirties. They are family men. They are husbands. They are fathers. They are boyfriends involved in serious relationships. They have all grown up.

Or so thought Mitch Martin (Luke Wilson), the "Godfather" of this return to the dorm comedy. When Mitch returns from a business trip to find that his girlfriend (Juliette Lewis) has been hiding from him a rather unnerving secret sex life, the guy begins to question the choices he's made in his life. And his friends are there to help. Best friend and self-made successful businessman Beanie (played with perfect comic timing by Vince Vaughn) suggests they take advantage of Mitch's new found freedom and start a fraternity. And it isn't long before every disillusioned and disenfranchised thirtysomething wants to join - to either recreate their days of reckless youth, or finally belong after years of being an outsider.

Among such misanthropes is Frank the Tank, a character that Will Ferrell makes his own. Literally baring all for the camera, Ferrell, like Saturday night live alum John Belushi before him, plays the wild but affable frat brother - the sad clown, the loveable loser. Ferrell gets all the best lines, but a few are reserved for the sardonic Vaughn. Wilson, to his credit, plays it straight, and the supporting cast (including Leah Remini, Artie Lange, and even the usually annoying Andy Disk in a hilarious cameo) is quite good.

Certainly, Old School is not Oscar material. It's not meant to be. And it makes no pretension to comedy of the kind that My Big Fat Greek wedding brought back into vogue. This is not a feel-good romantic comedy. But it is also not to be dismissed as some insipid throwaway college romp. Old School is intentionally sophomoric (all the more so, as it is director Todd Phillips' second big studio comedy). It is genuinely funny in parts, and a healthy hour and a half return to those days of reckless abandon that many of us dreamt we either had back - or had had in the first place.

Short and Simple Review by WubsTheFadger

First off, this comedy is hilarious. The story is easy to follow, simple, and full of funny jokes and hilarious gags. I thought this film was genuinely funny and I truly enjoyed it. The characters are all funny and are all likeable.

The acting is very good. Luke Wilson is by far the best. He is a likeable, funny, and good-hearted man looking for a fresh start. Vince Vaughn is also hilarious. His one-liners are always well timed. Will Ferrell plays a weird and sometime socially awkward man who at times can be very funny. I found his character to be the weakest and at times he was really annoying. Jeremy Piven's character is not well developed and very, very annoying.

The pacing is a little slow and the runtime is overlong.

Pros: Hilarious story, good jokes, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn are both hilarious, and most the characters are likeable

Cons: Some slow pacing, an overlong runtime, Jeremy Piven and his bad performance, and Will Ferrell's character is a little annoying

Overall Rating: 7.0

Can't argue about my love for this film. It is funny and not super serious. You can leave your brain at the door. Won't impress the critics, but combining this film with drinks is a must.

Sure, you could watch "Anchorman" or "Elf" or "Wedding Crashers"... but if you want real Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell action, you want to see "Old School".

A group of 30-year old men turn a house into a fraternity to recapture their days of beer-drinking and women-catching. But once the dean finds out, it becomes an all out war between these men and the establishment.

The cast is perfect: besides Wilson and Ferrell, you have Vince Vaughn, Elisha Cuthbert, that girl from "Rushmore", Jeremy Piven, and a variety of other cameos. Even James Carville, who is just about the last person you expect to appear in a sophomoric comedy of this type. Well, second to last: Robert Novak would have been stranger.

I have no complaints to make about this film. If you're familiar with the work of these gentlemen, you know what you're getting already. And this is the cream of the crop. If you like their other movies and not this one, I think you're probably out of your mind or on some mind-altering drug like Ketamine. Because how can you not appreciate this? Oh, and it has Terry O'Quinn and Snoop Dogg. Seriously, watch it.

Frank (Will Ferrell), Beenie (Vince Vaughn) and Mitch (Luke Wilson) three men who form a fraternity to legally stay in the house Mitch just purchased. This movie is jam packed with endless comedy of course it's Will Ferrell you can't help but laugh at the dude every time you see him. Old School when it hit DVD was the number one rented movie in North America thats quiet good for a movie anyone barely heard of when it first came out. But this movie caught the eyes of many fans. It should have a higher rating but I guess some people thought it was average. but to tell the truth it kicked some major comedy's to the curve. Not using so much of a teenage scene they conquered the mix of adulthood with college students forming a fan base for both a younger and older audience. By younger I mean 16 and up but usually movies either aim for 16 to 25 years of age. But this movie provides an entertainment that everyone can enjoy yes even your grandma. This movie definitely deserves a 10 and I have the power to do that. Buy this movie for god sakes it's a great movie to add to the comedy collection.

This is the best comedy since Tommy Boy. Every college educated male between the ages of 25-50 knows someone just like Frank and Beanie. Absolutely hilarious. Will Farrell is perfect as Frank but Vince Vaughn steals the show. Half of everything Beanie says in this movie is just classic. The plot goes a little off towards the end, but it doesn't matter because my friends and I have been repeating some of the lines for the last 2 years. With all the really lame comedies that have come out in the past 5 years it is nice to see something that will stand the test of time- a modern Animal House. A little too cheesy towards the end but still a top 10 comedy of all time and a must own on DVD.

"Old School" is a nutty comedy about three friends starting a fraternity. It's a comedy in the same vein as "Animal House," "Porky's Revenge," or "Road Trip," which are about hormonal young males drinking, partying, and having sex, except the hormonal males in "Old School" aren't exactly young---which makes it all the more hilarious. By all rights, they shouldn't have a fraternity nor should they be in one. Beanie (Vince Vaughn) was married with two kids, Frank (Will Ferrell) was a newlywed, and Mitch (Luke Wilson) just got out of a committed relationship. They were all 30+ and their partying days should've been behind them. Yet they started a fraternity in Mitch's new home as a means of making sure that the house, that was near the college campus, remained committed to campus related activities.

Necessity is the mother of inventions.

Their fraternity was unique in that it was a blend of students at the nearby college and adult non-students of varying ages. Blue (Patrick Cranshaw) was close to 90!!

The whole thing was a gas. This was just silly fun you couldn't help but laugh at.

This has to be one of the funniest movies ever made. I laughed so hard during this movie. I've heard a lot of bad reviews for this movie, and I can't believe what some people have said. Apparently some copies of this movie were taped over with that godawful Jennifer Aniston debacle "Picture Perfect", because that is the only explanation that I have for the people who have said those things. Seriously, Old School has some of the funniest scenes in movie history...and I've seen a LOT of movies. Mandatory for all movie fans to see. One of the greatest movies ever created! If you haven't seen this movie yet, go get it NOW! Buy it, rent it, borrow it, steal it, whatever, just see it somehow. 10/10

Mitch Martin (Luke Wilson) returns home earlier from a seminar and finds his mate Heidi (Juliette Lewis) in a gangbang. He quits his relationship and moves to a comfortable house in the campus of a university. However, the foolish Dean Gordon Pritchard (Jeremy Piven), who studied in the same high school as him, tries to make him leave the place since he is not a student anymore. Mitch's friends Bernard Campbell (Vince Vaugh) and Frank Ricard (Will Ferrell) convince him to transform his place in a fraternity, giving loud parties to the community. Frank has just got married, but he is not living with his wife anymore because he saw him drunk and running naked on the street a few days after their marriage. Beanie is married, has a successful business and moves everywhere with his baby. Mitch meets his former crush Nicole (Ellen Pompeo) and falls in love with her again. This movie is very silly. There are some laughable parts, but the story is very absurd. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): 'Dias Incríveis' ('Incredible Days')

Following in a long tradition of college comedies that stretches back, believe it or not, beyond the memory of pretty much anyone living, comes this movie which has a pretty good concept but doesn't exploit the comedic or filmic possibilities enough to make it a good film. My friend and I saw this movie at the drive-in theater in Sacramento, CA, and we were in a proper state of mind for a film of this type, so it did sustain our interest fairly well. There were one or two really funny scenes, mostly thanks to Ferrell.

Artie Lang -- were you really in this movie? I think you had, like, one line.

There were a lot of people in this movie -- Vince Vaughn, Juliette Lewis, Craig Kilborn -- who I could really say "what are you doing in this movie?" I know what Artie Lang and Jeremy Piven are doing in this movie, they have nothing else to do!

To be fair, Piven is a genre pro, having appeared to somewhat equal effect in a similar movie, "P.C.U.", in which David Spade played the role he plays in "Old School".

Better luck next time, guys, but thanks for the memories. fans of this genre will have to wait for next time for a really good movie.....

Like many others, I heard a lot of buzz about "Old School" before it was released. Things like "it's the new animal house" or "an instant classic". Well, unfortunately that didn't turn out to be the case. However, that doesn't mean its a bad movie. In fact, I loved it and would highly recommend it.

As someone in the same age group as the main characters, perhaps I related too much, but the idea is great: Three 30-something guys who are solidly on the path of a normal, mature life (marriage, kids, real job, etc...) decide to start a fraternity and recapture their college glory days. No, there's no real reason to do this, and no, its not realistic at all.

But who cares? Anyone who has ever been to a raging college party, done a few beer bongs and whippits, screamed along with some loud music, and hooked up with a random coed can immediately relate to this film. Not to mention there really are some gut-busting funny scenes throughout. Luke Wilson is the perfect actor for the steady, reserved professional guy. Will Ferrell is hilarious of course, and Vince Vaughn does what he does so well, playing the instigator trying to help a best friend have fun again. Unfortunately one of his funniest scenes only made it to the deleted scenes section of the DVD.

Which brings me to my main gripe with this movie: what was left on the cutting room floor. The deleted scenes, which can be seen on the DVD of course, aren't just trivial sections that you can understand were cut, some of them are classic. The movie was only an hour and a half long, and for the life of me I can't figure out why the 10 minutes of deleted footage didn't remain. I think some of them really would've changed the entire feel of the movie. The last act kind of changes into this "Rushmore"-ish Wes Anderson knock off, and I think at least a few of the deleted scenes would've helped it make more sense.

Despite that, this movie ranks alongside Dumb & Dumber, Meet the Parents, Kingpin, and American Pie as one of the best comedies of the last decade or so in my humble opinion. No it's not a classic, but it will stand the test of time as a very good comedy that you'll laugh at with each replay.

Old School is an absolute comedy classic. It's one you can watch over and over and it's still hilarious. It's completely unique and is actually a decent movie outside of how funny it is.

I just got out of Old School and let me say I laughed myself silly. Todd Phillps has made a great follow up to Road Trip and the same way Tom Green stole the former, Will Ferrel steals every scene he's in. Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn also have equally funny scenes. If you want a funny movie then this is for you.

This is one of the better if the not the funniest of the 'frat pack' movies. I love 'animal house', and this movie basically pays tribute to it. It's probably the closest thing to a sequel to 'animal house that we're ever going to get.

It's definitely a great movie to watch with your college friends even if you hate fraternities. The movie starts out funny but it loses steam. Most of the characters are funny, and Will Farrell is probably the funniest of the cast. Cuthbert is smoking hot with her cameo which is alright by me.

The director has some funny jokes but it's not enough to reach a full potential (like 'road trip'). If he took more time with the jokes and the plot then this movie could of been a classic 'frat pack' movie.

This is definitely a guilty pleasure with some laugh out loud jokes and funny situations. The movie loses steam when the plot balances itself between being serious and being funny.

This is the ultimately guy comedy of all time. I'll be quoting this movie until i'm 80 years old. The plot is original and hilarious and you can watch it from front to back 10 times in a row and still laugh every time. I'm a huge Will Ferrell fan and he doesn't disappoint. As Frank "the tank" he manages to be one of the funniest characters in movie history. This is a movie that most guys can relate to. If you've ever wanted to get back to the days of partying and girls, yet are stuck in the boredom of everyday life, then this movie will have you rolling around. Hecks, i'm even contemplating starting up my own fraternity. I can only hope that there will be a sequel to this one. I'll be the first in line to see it when it opens.

I saw Old School yesterday night on a french channel completely by chance. I knew nothing about it. It's a wonderful movie. I hadn't laughed like this since years. The main characters are caricatures but hilarious (especially Franck the tank...), the story is completely stupid (but fantastic) and the parties these thirty year old men who don't want to grow up organize are contagious and push you to go back to university with a good beer... Some celebrities make successful appearances (Juliette Lewis, Sean William Scott...) playing completely deranged characters, adding energy and fun to this well rhythmic comedy.

Old School reminds me Fight Club for the notorious "Godfather" as famous in this high school as Tyler Durden and a lot of incredibly funny sequences of this movie would be adopted by Monty Python themselves.

And above all, Old Scholl spares us an horrible ending like : "Well, I was a child, making mistakes, but now I understand a lot of things, honey, and I want to go back with you, our house, kids, dogs, canaries and God knows what else...". This film remains faithful to its principles and THAT'S GREAT!!

What else can I say : see this movie and be in a good mood for the rest of the day; I'm gonna see it once more now.

Thank you Todd Phillips.

Very funny comedy. Lots of great moments. Lots of great casting choices and they all do a great job--EXCEPT for the kids who play the students. They feel like they just showed up at random and get nothing to do. A movie about a fraternity needs pledges who matter to the story. But other than that, everything else is a lot of fun.

I'll go ahead and say it. WAY better than Animal House. This movie is now the classic college/young adult/mid-life crisis comedy standard in my humble opinion. I don't know how they could have done a better job.

Does anyone read these reviews? I didn't like the main idea at all, i.e. some fraternity for older people, and their fight to keep on going. However, there are some ingenious bits, such as Will Farrell running along naked thinking he had others following him, and many more. One brilliant sequence deserves special mention: when Will Farrell has fallen into a swimming pool, messed up on tranquilizer, and has a fantasy on a beach dreaming up an ex. Which of course turns out to be a drug-created dream, but the sequence is amazing. And then there is Elisha Cuthbert. Her role is relatively small, but memorable. She is as delectable as any female on the big or small screen, and I predict big things for her. Special mention for Artie Lange from the Howard Stern show.

You do not watch "Old School" if you are looking for intellectual stimulation. Also, while it's got some very funny moments (such as the CPR scene), it really isn't a very good film, as the plot really makes no sense and the movie is wildly uneven.

Three irresponsible jerks (Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell) have lives that are either a mess or they're about to make a mess. All three characters (especially Wilson and Vaughn) REALLY make no sense--like their characters are only about 50% written. For example, Wilson is supposed to be a really nice and decent guy--so why does he always agree to do such immoral things?! Vaughn is married and spends most of the film being a major jerk and encouraging his friends to be man-whores---like he's vicariously living through these guys. Huh?! Well, the three WHO ARE NOT STUDENTS decide to start a fraternity(?!) but Dean Wormer (or whoever) is a kill-joy who wants to shut down this den of debauchery. And the rest of the film is basically "Animal House" and "Revenge of the Nerds"--just not as original and not as good.

What is good about the film? Well, a few bits here and there are quite funny--and most involve Will Ferrell. In fact, Ferrell came off best in the film because his character was purely comic relief and didn't need to make sense! So, when Ferrell runs naked through the campus, it is funny because it is appealing to a low-brow and primal sense of humor. 'Blue' was also quite funny, as this character was purely for comic relief. But as for the rest of the cast, they often tried to bounce between comedy and drama--and it just didn't work. They came off as incomplete and clichéd. Not a bad movie if you just want brainless raunchy comedy but it could have been so much better...easily.