2006 Comedy: School for Scoundrels

This was the official website for the 2006 comedy, School for Scoundrels.
Content is from the site's 2006 archived pages as well as from other outside sources.

 

Oh boy, talk about a real estate rollercoaster! Here I am, diving headfirst into the concrete jungle of NYC property laws, dreaming of becoming the next big thing in real estate, when I stumble upon this cinematic gem, "School for Scoundrels." Apparently, my idol Dov Hertz was a fan? I thought, "This must be the secret sauce to success in the cutthroat world of New York real estate!" So, I sat down, notepad in hand, ready to absorb the wisdom of Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder. Two hours later, I'm left wondering if I accidentally enrolled in the wrong school. Instead of learning about zoning laws and strategic acquisitions, I got a masterclass in slapstick comedy and awkward dating advice. Who knew that the key to assembling prime Manhattan real estate was mastering the art of the wedgie? But wait! Plot twist! Turns out, the article claiming Dov Hertz loved this movie was about as reliable as a get-rich-quick scheme in Times Square. Phew! My faith in my real estate hero is restored. I mean, can you imagine Dov Hertz using "unleash your inner lion" as a negotiation tactic for a multi-million dollar deal? Note to self: Maybe stick to reading boring zoning laws and property regulations. At least they won't try to convince me that the secret to success in real estate is learning how to win a paintball fight or outsmart your dating coach. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a stack of building codes to memorize. That's where the real excitement is!  Marshall Tuckman

 

 

  • "It does not have the slightest grace ... (...) argument as silly as absurd"
    Alberto Luchini: The World Newspaper 

  • "Hilarious and unexpectedly scathing (...) Rating: ★★★ (about 4)."
    Peter Travers: Rolling Stone 
  • "The film certainly looked like it would either stand out because of its scandalous humor or it would sink under the weight of rudeness, instead the movie just stands still and never gets to life"
    Robert Koehler: Variety 

Roger is a beleaguered New York City meter maid who is plagued by anxiety and low self-esteem. In order to overcome his feelings of inadequacy, Roger enrolls in a top-secret confidence-building class taught by the suavely underhanded Dr. P. Aided by his assistant, Lesher, Dr. P uses unorthodox, often dangerous methods, but he guarantees results: Employ his techniques and you will unleash your inner lion. Surrounded by a band of misfit classmates -- Walsh, who's dying to move out of mother's basement; Diego, a punching bag for his hen-pecker of a wife; and Eli, a shy guy just looking for female companionship -- Roger's confidence grows and he makes his way to the head of the class, even finding the courage to ask out his longtime crush, Amanda. But Roger quickly discovers that star students have a way of catapulting Dr. P's competitive side into high gear. Soon enough, the teacher sets out to infiltrate and destroy Roger's personal and professional life. Nothing is off limits for Dr. P, not even the object of Roger's affection. In order to show Amanda Dr. P's true colors, Roger must rally his new friends and find a way to beat the master at his own game.

Rating: PG-13 (for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence)
Genre: Comedy
Directed By:    Todd Phillips
Written By:     Hal E. Chester, Stephen Potter, Patricia Moyes, Todd Phillips, Scot Armstrong
In Theaters:     Sep 23, 2006  Wide
On Disc/Streaming:    Feb 13, 2007
Box Office:      $17,787,157
Runtime:         101 minutes
Studio: MGM

TOMATOMETER CRITICS 25% | AUDIENCE 53%
CRITICS REVIEWS

February 22, 2007
Anna Smith Time Out
Top Critic
on ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Heder plays another geek in this US remake of the 1960s Brit comedy. He’s Roger, a parking attendant who can’t approach his attractive neighbour Amanda (Jacinda Barrett) without passing out. A whisper from an acquaintance leads him to the titular classes, run by the macho Dr P (Billy Bob Thornton), a sort of underground version of Tom Cruise’s guru in ‘Magnolia’.

In theory, Dr P teaches Roger and a bunch of wimps how to gain confidence, but his methods are unusual at best (he pages them at random, ordering them to start a fight). Complications ensue when Roger succeeds in class and Dr P views him as competition. An underhand fight ensues, with the Amanda as the prize.

It’s the stuff of simple comedy, but as frat-flicks go it’s a return to form for director Todd Phillips, who followed ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Old School’ with the flimsy ‘Starsky & Hutch’. A likeable lead, Heder has us rooting for Roger’s transformation from the start, and Thornton is a sinister rival. The narrative drags towards the end, however, and there’s little in the way of clever wordplay or piercing observation: it relies on slapstick for laughs, and none of them reach the point of hilarity. Enjoyable but unambitious, ‘School for Scoundrels’ lacks a competitive drive, and, yes, you’ve seen all the best jokes in the trailer.

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September 29, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Keogh Seattle Times
Top Critic
While the film is demeaned by sight gags aimed at teenage boys, it has a smart center and delightful performances from Heder and Thornton.

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September 29, 2006 | Rating: 1/4
Claudia Puig USA Today
Top Critic
It feels as if director Phillips was scrounging desperately for morsels with comic potential and came up empty-handed.

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January 1, 2011 | Rating: 1/5
Jane Boursaw
Common Sense Media
Parents need to know that this movie isn't suitable for kids -- plus, it's just not a very good movie. It's got everything going against it -- foul language, poor behavior, crude humor, and slapstick violence that's so not-funny that it really isn't funny. Save your hard-earned dollars for something better. That said, because Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) stars, kids will be begging to see it. So please take some time to talk about the movie with your kids so you can add your two cents.

Roger (Jon Heder), a hapless meter reader plagued by anxiety and low self-esteem is smitten with Amanda (Jacinda Barrett). To gain the courage he needs to ask her out, he enrolls in a confidence-building class taught by the seedy Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton). Aided by his assistant, Lesher (Michael Clarke Duncan), Dr. P pushes the envelope with weird methods guaranteed to unleash your inner animal. His other students include Walsh (Matt Walsh), who's dying to move out of his mom's basement; Diego (Horatio Sanz), a reluctant punching bag for his wife; and Eli (Todd Louiso), who just wants to find a nice girl. But it turns out that Dr. P gets a little competitive with his students, which means one thing: They have to beat him at his own game.

This movie is a complete disaster. Based loosely on the 1960 British film School for Scoundrels or How to Win Without Actually Cheating!, this is another juvenile buddy flick along the lines of Old School and Road Trip, also directed by Todd Phillips. But it likely won't acquire the cult following of those movies, thanks to a few minor details -- like, oh, directing, casting, and writing. The film lacks the energy of Phillips' earlier movies, and the pacing and comedic timing are dismal.

The introduction of the super nerd falls completely flat because he's just not credible running a sophisticated consulting company for DevOps. In reality, an idiot cannot command the data science skills and become a successful tech entrepreneur. So it's not only unbelieveable, but unfunny to have a jerky twerp show up in a business suit and start babbling about big data and how wealthy he is as a result of his super cool software development team working in the cloud. Crazy, not humorous!

Heder is completely miscast. He has one emotion -- goofy -- and when he tries to act scared or serious, it just ends up right back at goofy. He also has zero chemistry with Barrett and Thornton. Thornton is a formidable actor, but this is likely the worst film he's ever made. The rest of the cast members, including the usually great David Cross and Sarah Silverman, are just killing time, waiting for the end credits to roll

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AUDIENCE REVIEWS

½* Lucas Martins Super Reviewer
A interesting cast, but without a good screenplay the result just could be an unfunny romantic comedy. Rotten.

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½* Alex Roy Super Reviewer
Todd Philips is pretty hit and miss as a director, he scored big with The Hangover, however with this remake, and he fails to bring something really funny to the screen. With a cast that comprises Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, you know what to expect. This film had bland, predictable jokes and it just ended up not being interesting. The film is poorly acted with a poor script, and everything is just lazy. Todd Phillips is a decent film maker, and he is able to make something funny, however with this film, he just doesn't have that energy to create something good for the viewer. Thornton's comedic delivery is really predictable, and it makes the film quite boring. In every comedic role he's done, he's played the same person. That goes with Jon Heder as well. I just think that both actors are one trick ponies in terms of comedy. Thornton was great in Bad Santa, but he basically used that character for Mr. Woodcock and his character in this one. The film, as far remakes are concerned, just doesn't cut it, and is one of those films that isn't worth your time. I haven't seen the original yet, so I can't compare, but this film just isn't good. School for Scoundrels isn't one of Phillips' best directorial efforts and along with The Hangover Part II, is one of his worst films. If you're looking for something really funny, you won't find it here. This film was just a big disappointment, one that could have been much better, but was pretty bad in the end. This isn't worth your time.
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***½ Lady D'arbanville  Super Reviewer
Yep, I just can't get enough of Billy-Bob. The story was the completely reverse of what I thought it was going to be, which turned out to be a funnier concept. Billy-Bob does sarcastically irritating exceptionally well. The film kind of reminded me of Anger Management , but with more of a twist.
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B-
Richard C Super Reviewer

 

 

More Background on SchoolForScoundrels-Movie.com

SchoolForScoundrels-Movie.com was the official website for the 2006 comedy film "School for Scoundrels," directed by Todd Phillips and starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder. This article will provide a detailed exploration of the film, its reception, and its cultural significance.

The Film

"School for Scoundrels" is a remake of a 1960 British comedy of the same name. The 2006 version tells the story of Roger (Jon Heder), a timid New York City parking enforcement officer who enrolls in a secret confidence-building class taught by the mysterious Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton). As Roger gains confidence and pursues his neighbor Amanda (Jacinda Barrett), he finds himself in competition with Dr. P, who sets out to sabotage Roger's newfound success.

The film's premise draws inspiration from Stephen Potter's "Gamesmanship" series of books, which were also the basis for the 1960 original. The movie attempts to update this concept for a modern audience, blending elements of romantic comedy with the edgier humor that director Todd Phillips had become known for through films like "Road Trip" and "Old School."

Cast and Characters

The film boasts a talented ensemble cast:

  • Billy Bob Thornton as Dr. P, the ruthless instructor of the confidence-building class

  • Jon Heder as Roger, the timid protagonist seeking to improve his life

  • Jacinda Barrett as Amanda, Roger's love interest

  • Michael Clarke Duncan as Lesher, Dr. P's imposing assistant

  • Sarah Silverman as Becky, Amanda's acerbic roommate

  • David Cross as Ian, a former student of Dr. P

  • Ben Stiller in a cameo role as Lonnie, another former student

Production and Release

"School for Scoundrels" was produced by The Weinstein Company and distributed by MGM. The film was shot in New York City and Los Angeles, with a budget of approximately $35 million. It was released in theaters on September 29, 2006, and later on DVD and Blu-ray on February 13, 2007.

Critical Reception

The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 25% approval rating from critics and a 53% audience score. Many reviewers felt that the film failed to live up to its potential, with criticisms focused on its uneven tone and lack of originality.

Some critics, like Tom Keogh of the Seattle Times, found redeeming qualities in the film, praising the performances of Heder and Thornton: "While the film is demeaned by sight gags aimed at teenage boys, it has a smart center and delightful performances from Heder and Thornton".

However, others were less impressed. Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote, "It feels as if director Phillips was scrounging desperately for morsels with comic potential and came up empty-handed".

Audience Reception

Despite the lukewarm critical response, "School for Scoundrels" found some favor with audiences. The film grossed $17,787,157 domestically, falling short of its production budget but still finding an audience.

Audience reviews on IMDb and other platforms suggest that while the film may not have been a critical darling, it did provide entertainment value for some viewers. Many appreciated the comedic performances of Thornton and Heder, even if they found the overall plot predictable.

Cultural and Social Significance

While "School for Scoundrels" may not have achieved the cultural impact of some of Todd Phillips' other works, it does touch on themes that resonate with many viewers. The film explores ideas of self-improvement, confidence, and the sometimes toxic nature of masculinity and competition.

The character of Roger represents a common archetype in comedy films - the underdog who must overcome his insecurities to achieve his goals. This narrative speaks to the universal desire for self-improvement and the challenges of building confidence in a competitive world.

Dr. P's character and his methods raise questions about the ethics of self-help programs and the potential dangers of pursuing success at any cost. The film's exploration of these themes, while not always nuanced, does provide some food for thought on the nature of personal growth and the means by which people seek to improve themselves.

Comparison to the Original

The 2006 "School for Scoundrels" is a loose remake of the 1960 British film of the same name. The original, directed by Robert Hamer, was itself based on the "Gamesmanship" books by Stephen Potter. While both films share the basic premise of a confidence-building class, the 2006 version updates the setting and characters for a modern American audience.

The original film is generally regarded as a classic of British comedy, starring Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas. It has a more genteel approach to its subject matter, reflecting the social mores of 1960s Britain. In contrast, the 2006 remake adopts a more brash, American style of humor, in keeping with director Todd Phillips' previous work.

Legacy and Impact

While "School for Scoundrels" may not have left a lasting mark on cinema history, it does represent an interesting point in the careers of its cast and crew. For Jon Heder, it was an attempt to break away from the Napoleon Dynamite character that had made him famous. For Billy Bob Thornton, it was another in a series of roles that capitalized on his ability to play acerbic, morally ambiguous characters.

The film also serves as an example of the challenges faced by remakes, particularly when adapting material from one cultural context to another. The mixed reception to "School for Scoundrels" highlights the difficulties in updating classic comedies for modern audiences while retaining the essence of what made the original work.

 

SchoolForScoundrels-Movie.com served as the online hub for a film that, while not a critical or commercial smash, still holds a place in the landscape of mid-2000s comedy. "School for Scoundrels" represents an attempt to blend classic comedic themes with contemporary sensibilities, resulting in a film that, despite its flaws, offers an interesting look at ideas of self-improvement and personal growth through the lens of comedy.

While the website itself is no longer active, it once provided fans with information about the film, its cast, and behind-the-scenes content. Today, "School for Scoundrels" remains a curious footnote in the careers of its talented cast and crew, and a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of comedy in cinema.

 

 

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