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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
School for Scoundrels
Roger (Jon Heder) is an insecure guy. He works as a parking enforcement officer in New York and even lacks confidence in that lackluster job. Let’s face it. He’s a milquetoast. Then he hears about a secret confidence-building class and figures he has nothing to lose, except the $5,000 fee – cash only!
Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton) teaches the class to men who have no self esteem. Along with his assistant Lesher (Michael Clarke Duncan), their tactics are unusual and unorthodox. But Roger sticks with the humiliating situations because he desperately wants to gain the courage to ask out his neighbor Amanda (Jacinda Barrett). Along with the other uncourageous men in the class, Roger takes the crap thrown at them. Some of it is fun. After all, we’ve all heard about paint ball fights. But these guys are forced to play without any helmets or armor. It’s hilarious to watch these clumsy men shooting their guns at each other over and over again. At first they don’t have a clue that they’re supposed to duck and cover.
Things finally start going better for Roger and he becomes the star pupil, to the dismay of Dr. P, who considers himself the best. When he feels like he is being challenged, he sets up Roger and the real games begin. It’s teacher against student in this comedy that will have audiences laughing as little by little, the two try to outdo each other, both psychologically and physically. And the antics do get physical. Tennis anyone? This match definitely wouldn’t go over well at Wimbledon.
Rated PG-13 for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence, the film runs 101 minutes.
© 2006 Francine Brokaw
All pictures ©Dimension Films/Tracy Bennett. All rights reserved .
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