On a comment to a post about this movie on Facebook, someone admitted to having a “serious man crush” on Paul Rudd. While I like Rudd’s work in Anchor Man and 40 Year Old Virgin, I wasn’t sure he was worthy of said man crush but this film makes him so. His role in this film provided him the opportunity to create a character with more depth than any of his previous gigs.

Danny Donahue (Rudd) and his advertising buddy, Wheeler (Seann William Scott), are touring elementary schools promoting an anti-drug message while peddling their Minotaur energy drink. Wheeler is perfectly happy with his place in life wearing a fuzzy minotaur costume but Danny is very discontent. He has a decent job, a great girlfriend and a good friend but after spending 10 years in the same spot begins to feel apathetic toward everything. Stuck in a rut quickly becomes a recurring theme. After an exceptionally bad day and a slight road rage incident, Danny and Wheeler face completing 150hours of community service in 30 days or going to jail. After being assigned as “bigs” to troubled youth known as “littles,” prison doesn’t really look that bad. With no other choice but to stick it out, the duo eventually grow attached to the kids and find that while helping the kids, the benefits go both ways.

There’s a lot to like about this film. As mentioned, Rudd does a superb job being a discontented little prick throughout most of the film without being so off-putting that you simply dislike him. Here is a character that feels very blah about life and knows he needs to make changes but not all of his attempts work out as expected. He is someone many people can easily identify with. Who hasn’t felt incredibly under-whelmed with what they are doing at work and in life at some point?

The kids in this were really good also. Bobb’e J. Thompson’s potty-mouthed character, Ronnie, is as cute as he is abrasive. The cursing at the beginning seemed more for shock value at first, thanks to his age, but you eventually realize that as he curses less and less that it is thanks to his relationship to his “big” and he’s doing so as a means of getting attention. It’s hard not to sympathise with the little guy.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse was masterful as the biggest geek ever who, unsurprisingly, has confidence issues. His character is addicted to “L.A.I.R.E.” which in non-movie terms is called “L.A.R.P.” or live-action role playing. This is possibly one of the nerdiest activities one could participate in. With specific clothing for different “kingdoms” and padded weapons, it goes way beyond a trip to the Renaissance Faire in costume. His “big” is someone willing to fight for him. Something he doesn’t have at home.

If you feel like you’re in a rut or want to make significant change in your life, go watch this film. It will make you consider the choices you are about to make and ponder if such drastic changes are necessary or if smaller tweeks and greater attention to your relationships to those around you are all you need to make for a better life while making you laugh your ass off.

VERDICT | Watch It!