DRILLBIT TAYLOR IN THEATRES

Drillbit Taylor

Jeri Jacquin
Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Friday is the comedy Drilbit Taylor.

This film tell the story of Ryan (Troy Gentile) and Wade (Nate Hartley) who are about to start their first year of high school. Trying their best to be cool doesn’t work out very well. On the very first day the two boys meet up with the school bully Filkins (Alex Frost) who is squeezing another boy Emmit (David Dorfman) into a locker.

As Ryan and Wade becomes the newest target, there only choice is to hire themselves a bodyguard. After interviewing quite a few candidates, there finances allow them to accept Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson) as their bodyguard. What these boys are unaware of is that Drillbit is a down and out homeless guy who is merely working to save enough to get out of Malibu. He can’t tell the truth to save his life and is mainly looking out for number one.

Drillbit’s friends also show him how he can squeeze more out of the deal if he stays and helps to sort of teach the boys to defend themselves. So following the boys to school he meets up with teacher Lisa (Leslie Mann) and adds another reason for Drilbit to hang around.

When Drillbit is exposed the boys must take it upon themselves to settle the score with the bully Filkins and find that Drillbit does have a heart.

FINAL WORD: Wilson has his moments but they are few and far between. It is easy to see where his character is going and there are no surprises. It feels as if we have seen this character before.

Gentile and Hartley are funny as the two boys realizing that growing up isn’t always easy but at least they attempt to make it interesting. Emmit couldn’t possible be another McLovin (Superbad) if he tried; he was too scary and squeaky. Frost as the bully is just as scary with his Eddie Hasket attempt at convincing the principle that he does not wrong.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “DrillBit Taylor” two tubs of popcorn. This film is a serious disappointment. It was just a mulled up mixture of “Superbad” but not even close to being as funny. Seth Rogan fans are not going to be happy with this one. I would wait for DVD on this film and even then make sure you don’t want to laugh too much.