KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * *
This is the first comedy from young hotshot producer and director Judd Apatow that feels like it's been rolled off a production line, without the same care and attention given to previous works like The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Superbad.
Co-written by Seth Rogen (who starred in Apatow's Knocked Up and co-wrote Superbad), Drillbit Taylor comes across as the gentler, lighter version of Superbad, a film about two geeky teenagers determined not to leave high school as virgins.
Drillbit Taylor is a film about two geeky teenagers entering high school, determined to make a good impression on their fellow students.
Things don't go according to plan, and before they know it the plump Ryan (Gentile), skinny Wade (Hartley) and their new uber-nerdy friend Emmit (Dorfman) are being terrorised by the school bully, Filkins (Frost).
Unable to convince principal or parents that their lives are in danger, the three take matters into their own hands by hiring the questionable and low-budget Drillbit Taylor (Wilson), a homeless ex-Army soldier, as their bodyguard.
There are a few funny lines but the story is weak and unfocused, and after the film has meandered along it's a relief to see a conclusion in sight, even if it's a predictable outcome.
The film largely relies on Wilson's charming comedic style and solid performances by Gentile and Hartley who try hard, albeit unsuccessfully, to put some much-needed heart into this comedy.
Cast: Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile, David Dorfman, Nate Hartley, Alex Frost, Leslie Mann, Josh Peck
Director: Steven Brill
Running Time: 102 mins
Rating: PG (coarse language)
Screening: SkyCity, Hoyts, Berkeley Cinemas
Verdict: Good performances, and Wilson is as charming as ever, but the script isn't as sharp as you'd expect and the film feels like a rehash of previous ideas
