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 DRILLBIT TAYLOR
(EXTENDED SURVIVAL EDITION) |
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| Actors: Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, David Dorfman, Alex Frost, Josh Peck |
| Director: Steven Brill |
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Studio: Paramount Pictures |
| DVD release: 01 July 2008 |
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Runtime: 109 minutes (1 disc) |
| Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen |
| DVD features: Audio tracks (English, French, Spanish - 5.1 Dolby Digital, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD), Subtitles (English, French, Portugese, Spanish), Commentary (Steven Brill, Kristofor Brown, Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley, David Dorfman), Commentary: The Writers Get a Chance to Talk (Kristofor Brown and Seth Rogen), Additional Scenes, Featurettes (Line-O-Rama, Panhandle, Gag Reel, Kids on the Loose, Directing Kids, Super Billy, Bully, Bodyguard, Trading Punches, Rap Off, Sprinkler Day, Filkins Fight, The Life of Don, The Real Don: Danny McBride, Trailers (International A v. 7, Bodyguard v. 22) |
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Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson) is a homeless beach bum and an opportunist. He's clever and good at getting by, but not clever enough to keep a career and a home.
Wade (Nate Hartley) and Ryan (Troy Gentile) are just taking their first steps into high school and see it as a chance to start afresh and hopefully shed their nerdy junior high school reputations.
That plan fails in a flash when Wade speaks his mind about the abuse of a fellow nerd by a couple of bullies. Filkins (Alex Frost) and Ronnie (Josh Peck of Mean Creek ) are busy trying to stuff Emmit (David
Dorfman) into a locker when Wade speaks up. The bullies, who are fully capable of growing facial hair and voting, don't take this intrusion lightly and turn their hatred on Wade, Ryan and Emmit. The geeks pool their money in hopes of hiring a bodyguard. Drillbit sees an opportunity and takes the boys under his wing (and also takes their money and possessions).
One of the best parts of the film is the interview process. The boys meet with several would-be bodyguards, one of whom (Adam Baldwin) claims previous experience guarding high school kids. Keen cinephiles may remember that he guarded Chris Makepeace's Clifford from Matt Dillon's Moody in My Bodyguard about 28 years ago. Frank Whaley also makes an appearance in this scene as a twitchy candidate.
Drillbit Taylor is not a bad film in the genre of whimpy kids vs. evil bullies, but it's predictable from the word go. If you've seen My Bodyguard, Three-O'Clock High , or Back to the Future , you can guess how it's going to end. Formula aside, it's a pleasant journey and, as always, fun to see people who felt the way I did in high school. I just wish Hollywood trailer makers would stop putting the best bits and most of the plots into the previews.
Writing credits on this one include Seth Rogen and Edmond Dantes - aka John Hughes. Remember him? C'mon back, John. We still love you.
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