OLD SCHOOL BS2

I'm working on a comedy right now, specifically a comedy where the protag's goal is a little ambiguous at the start of Act 2. So I was re-screening some flicks that had 'lets party!' or 'lets have fun' as an Act 2 goal. Ferris Bueller comes to mind. Superbad is more goal-driven -- 'get the alcohol for the party'.

It doesn't quite hit some screenwriting 101 in regards to clarity of theme/arc...and it's not as if it's an experimental script-- it definitely feels like it's trying to check those standard screenwriting  boxes. Ultimately,  if a movie makes me laugh, I'll forgive a lot of weaknesses in script/structure. And this is a perfect example. What I tend not to forgive is unfunny. Old School is funny.

GENRE TYPE: RITE OF PASSAGE / MIDLIFE PASSAGE

1. A "life problem" -- Mitch (Luke Wilson) loses his wife, has a hard time with his boss, and has an unexcited life with people pushing him around.
2. His "wrong way" of attacking the problem is through partying and frat activities.
3. His "Acceptance" is that of who he really can be. He is The Godfather/Leader of Men people think he is. He takes control of his life, and stands up for himself and gets the girl he should be within the process.

Not a perfect fit, btw. It doesn't have the resonating themes of something like City Slickers...but it definitely wants to be a RITE OF PASSAGE film.

OPENING IMAGE:
Not so much an image as a sequence, our hero MITCH, sneaks out of a conference early to fly home and surprise his wife. Once there, he finds his wife watching hardcore porn, as a naked-blindfolded couple pops out of the bedroom. His wife is a freak. She's sick of their dull life. She has needs boring Mitch can't provide for. The opening sets up the tone and also sets up Mitch's character...a schlub who lets others push him around.


THEME STATED:
The theme is a little cloudy on this one. It doesn't field unified to me. Vince doesn't really arc. He pretty much stays the same throughout. Will Ferrell ’don’t change for anyone'/'be honest with yourself' arc going. Mitch’s wife touches on this too with her secret life of three ways and porn. And there are definitely some threads with lead character Mitch where lies to his romantic interest Nicole and then finally decides to be honest with her.

But I think honesty is only a small part of it. The kicker is that Mitch does not seem dishonest in the setup. It's only after he breaks up with his wife and the frat opens that he starts with his dishonesty. I think that's just a symptom of his bigger issue.

In the opening sequence, Mitch hops in the back of a cab with a torn seat belt. He asked the drive "Do you have a recommendation?" And the driver responds --put your earmuffs on -- "I recommend you stop being such a faggot."

I think therein lies the theme.

LETTING PEOPLE PUSH YOU AROUND and RUN YOUR LIFE leads to loneliness and lack of satisfaction; but TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE and STANDING UP FOR YOURSELF leads to success and true love.

That's the one I'm running with for now. Vince is an example of it from the beginning. He's the most successful of the bunch. He makes things happen. Makes bold choices. And lives a happy life with no regrets.

Will lets his new wife push him around and tries to be the guy she wants, he quickly finds separated and soon divorce but in the end he realizes he's meant to be Frank the Tank.


NOTE: Before re-screening this, I would have guessed Old School was more about people 'reliving their glory days'. It's not. Vince already does what he wants. Frank the Tank might go back to the way he was...but it doesn't take much. He's on board almost immediately. And Mitch fits in but never really seems to be that excited about the parties and such. He's just along for the ride.

SETUP:
We meet the guys -- Will is getting married. Mitch and Vince are his best men.  Vince is the speaker entrepreneur who is successful and speaks his mind. Mitch is just a brooding, blubbering mess. He meets an old crush from high school -- NICOLE -- and just when things are going well, he spills coffee on her. He makes a drunken speech. He's a broken man.

CATALYST:
Will moves into a house that's practically on a college campus. Vince & Will help him move in. Vince wants to throw a huge party to reintroduce Mitch to the world.

DEBATE:
The beaten down Mitch is hesitant but reluctantly agrees.  Vince sees it as a great opportunity. Will needs to check with the wife. Will's wife is worried Frank the Tank to resurface. He promises he'll be good.

MITCH-A-PALOOZA ensues. Packed with college students. Huge speakers. Beer! And Snoop Dog!

The party ends with Frank the Tank streaking off nude (and getting caught by the wife). And Mitch waking up with the very Young Elisha Cuthbert in his bed.

THE DEAN enters and tells them the house has been rezoned for SCHOOL PURPOSES only. At work, Mitch finds out Elisha is his hard ass boss's daughter -- and only in high school.

Will goes to therapy and it doesn't go well. He ends up moving into the house.

BREAK INTO ACT 2:

Vince has a meeting at the house -- he has a plan to save Mitch's college abode -- LETS START AN ALL-AGE FRATERNITY. Mitch doesn't want to, but goes along.

NOTE: There are several comedies where the protag is passive and he has a friend that forces him into stuff -- FERRIS BUELLER and SUPERBAD come to mind. The protags are just sort of along for the ride...

B-STORY:
Nicole the high-school crush comes to visit. Despite people calling him The Godfather, Luke hides the whole frat thing from Nicole. There's obvious sparks between them.

FUN & GAMES:
Rush begins! And we're treated to a montage of 'initiation gags' as THE DEAN watches and fumes. Mitch is getting worried, word is traveling and some dudes at work want in.

Will tries to make up with the wife but things go horribly wrong when he interrupts a BJ class. It's not looking good for Will.

At a birthday party for Vince's kid -- Mitch discovers Nicole has a douche bag girlfriend. We see Vince as a commander of his world. Gorgeous house. Using frat guys to work the birthday. Selling speakers to party-goers. Meanwhile, Will takes a tranq dart to the neck and ruins the party.

The Dean schemes to get rid of the house. He bribes the STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT to revoke their charter.

Mitch wants to tell Nicole about the boyfriend but finds out Nicole is moving in with him. Mitch's wish-washy ways have cost him the girl again. He drowns himself in some KY wrestling.

MIDPOINT:
Blue -- the 80-something frat boy has a heart attack wrestling two naked hot ties. It's a moment of reflection for everyone and THE MOMENT OF GRACE for Mitch. Mitch is no longer going to be wish-washy, from this point on; he's going to stand up for himself.

BAD GUYS CLOSE IN:
Will's wife tells him she wants a divorce. Nicole's boyfriend tells her that Mitch was hitting and groping on all the girls at the birthday party.

The new Mitch decides to 'be a man' and level with Nicole and tell her all about the frat, but when Elisha Cuthbert comes in and hints that every thing's okay with 'her father' Nicole is outraged and storms off.

ALL IS LOST:
The frat house is boarded up! The Dean claims that the frat has violated several school policies and their charter is revoked. To make matters worse, students in the fraternity will be expelled (whiff of death).

DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
In a hotel room, the entire frat broods over the news. The younger ones worried about being expelled. Will worried about being homeless.

Even Vince walks out on the group thinking there's nothing left to do.

But now, Mitch is the guy taking control. He walks into work and stands up to the boss, and gets two of his 'team' to figure out a way to fight the Dean's revoked charter.

BREAK INTO ACT 3:
Mitch tells the frat they have one choice -- by competing in a series of 'tests' that range from academics to athletics...if they pass they can keep the frat & the house!

FINALE:
In a montage of gags, the guys take the tests! And win the day!

In the midst of this, the school president shows up and warns the DEAN that her bribe didn't come through. He berates her and storms off.

NOTE: And thereby totally telegraphing the end...

But the Dean has a final surprise -- Blue(the dead old guy) didn't compete and was on their roster...bringing their average score down from 85 to 58% -- i.e. -- they failed.

As Mitch protests, the School President arrives. She taped the bribe conversation. The Dean grabs the recorder and races off. A chase ensues and he's brought down.

Later on, Mitch is packing up -- taking control of his life and moving on. Nicole shows up. She realized who her boyfriend was...Nicole and Mitch walk off into the frat presumably for a quick frat house fling.

CLOSING IMAGE:
A framed picture of MITCH -- the Godfather, a manned worthy of being the founder of a Frat....then we hear/see Will give a tribute, Will's now a college radio DJ.


So what did we learn Charlie Brown? This comedy is funny, and it works. It's a good concept. Part City Slickers, part animal house. With some good laughs, memorable characters, and terrific performances by Vince Vaughn and a breakout performance by Will Ferrell. That said, the script isn't tight, it relies on some stock setups, provides some patch-work attempts at theme and arc, and ultimately is far from flawless. I give it credit for its pacing and length. The recent spate of Apatow films all seem to outstay their welcome. This moves fast and only runs for 90-minutes.