DRILLBIT TAYLOR
US, 2008, 104 minutes, Colour.
Owen Wilson, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, David Dorffman.
Directed by Steven Brill.
Three kids and their first day at high school. The trouble is that Wade is gangly, Ryan is definitely not and Emmett is just too small. The worse trouble is that they attract the menace of the school bullies who then make their life hell. Empathetic audiences will be feeling uncomfortably vengeful – although Ryan, who wants to be called T-Dog? and is too immaturely worldly-wise is sometimes hard to take.
In this cyberworld of ours they find a solution, bodyguard ads on the net and so interview a number of tough guys who apply to guard them at school. We have already been introduced to Drillbit Taylor who lives on the streets (or in the grassy hill at the back of the streets) and is, to all intents and purposes something of a sponging bum. Him they can afford.
Most of the film is about his conning the boys out of their money, in training them in attack and defence, even posing as a substitute teacher (which he enjoys) and falling for the English teacher. He is not particularly ept at the job. His bum friends rob Wade’s house. But, even though the boys become disillusioned with him, and Wade has a stepfather who proudly tells him that he himself was a bully at school (and if he met the boy now the boy would probably thank him!) and Ryan has an absent father, it is clear that Drillbit has been quite an effective supplementary male figure in their lives.
Drillbit is played by Owen Wilson at his best. He is droll. His timing is good. He can get a lot out of a throwaway line. He can be convincingly cowardly and heroic. It’s not the greatest Owen Wilson vehicle, and the final fight is somewhat bone-crunching (and little finger severing) but, if you happen upon it, it has its moments.
(Seth Rogen who can be very funny co-wrote the screenplay – the sad thought is that the young characters here will soon grow up to replay Rogen’s Superbad!)
1.Owen Wilson comedies? His screen persona? Laidback, the slacker? His timing? One-liners, comic effect? Irony?
2.The settings, Los Angeles, schools, homes, camping out? The beach? The musical score?
3.The writers, the background of the comedies like Knocked Up, Superbad …? Superbad in Short Trousers …? The quality of the humour – the crass humour, for young adolescent audiences?
4.The focus on Wade, at home, his mother, his stepfather who was a bully at school, the twin stepbrothers? Their constantly criticising him? His preparations for the first day at high school? His friends, Ryan? At the bus stop, wearing the same shirt? The criticisms? Arrival at school, their being mocked, the bullies? The young boy cottoning on to them? Being put in the one shirt? The collage of other humiliations and bullying? Ryan, his size, his bossing his mother, criticisms of his absent father? Phoning Wade? His being a leader? Wade and his being a follower – emerging as a leader? The small boy and arrival at school?
5.The bullies, Filkins and Ronnie? Together, malicious, older? The continued attacks? The boys trying to assert themselves? Failing?
6.The teacher, her English classes? Her encounter with Drillbit, in the staff room, throwing herself at him, her record with men, losers? The dates, her pushiness? The reconciliation at the end?
7.Drillbit, his living outside, showering in the open? Begging on the streets, the irony of the bully’s mother giving him money? The friends, stealing, scrounging? The ambitions for going to Canada?
8.The three boys, the internet, putting out the advertisement? The humorous collage of the range of people interviewed (including Adam Baldwin from My Bodyguard)? The comic turn from Frank Whaley? The interview with Drillbit? His spiel? Army service, Secret Service, comparisons with Sylvester Stallone …? Their being impressed? Not being able to afford the others, being able to afford him?
9.Drillbit and his motivation, wanting to get the money from the boys? His going to the house? Food? Secrecy?
10.The training, his spiels – and their humour? The touch of truth? The response of the boys, the exercise, gawky but improving? His planning to be at the school, watching in secret? Their being bullied?
11.His going as a substitute teacher, being welcomed by the principal, the staff room? The classes, his enjoying himself? Saving the boys? Filkins and Ronnie and their being left stranded in the gym? His overcoming them?
12.The effect on the boys themselves, their self-confidence? The young Asian girl, Wade and his following her around, enrolling in all her courses? Their discussions, her being insulted by Filkins, his defending her?
13.The build-up to the party, Drillbit and his promises, the fights? The rescue?
14.The discovery of the truth, the boys’ reactions, Drillbit being humiliated? His continued comebacks?
15.His friend, the robbery of the house, Wade and his desperation? Drillbit later returning everything?
16.The build-up to the finale, the friends in jail? His coming to the rescue? His being a father figure to the boys? Going to jail, coming out – and their meeting him, and the teacher meeting him?
17.A droll comedy rather than hilarious?
