The Quad

Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Entertainment

The name Judd Apatow and the word "hit" have become synonymous. Since the 2005 release of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," Apatow has seemed to be consistent in his ability to produce hit after hit, whether he is producing, writing, directing, or a combination of all three. Last year alone, he had his name attached to two films which raked in over $100 million each, with "Knocked Up" and "Superbad." Along with 2005's "Wedding Crashers," Apatow contributed to the revival of the R-rated teen comedy. He stumbled with the critical darling, but commercial bomb, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," but he can be forgiven for his mistakes. Perhaps it is his ability to launch the careers of young talent that has helped create the buzz that has surrounded his name.

This year, Apatow has his name attached to four films; "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Step Brothers," "Pineapple Express" and "Drillbit Taylor." "Drillbit" is the first of his films. Directed by Stephen Brill, who also did the Apatow written "Heavyweights," "Drillbit" is the weakest in the long list of Apatow films. There are elements of last summer's "Superbad" which come shining through from the first moments of the film to the finale. However, with a PG-13 rating, there is little that can be done and the level of humor sinks into the doldrums of comedy, relying on standard gags and a relatively predictable plot. The pitch-perfect cast, consisting of Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann, Josh Peck and Alex Frost, attempts to make-up for the lacking script, but cannot as they are stuck repeating similar jokes. While "Drillbit" is a weak effort amongst an otherwise stellar list, it is still entertaining. The film is not without its charm and will make you laugh, even though the laughs come much less frequently than in films like "Knocked Up" and "Superbad." In the end, "Drillbit" is a forgivable blotch on a stellar résumé.

"Drillbit" begins with the first day of high school for Wade (Nate Hartely) and Ryan, or T-Dog as he prefers to be called (Troy Gentile), two friends who are looking forward to the first day at a new school. The two get off to a bad start from the first minute, as they both show up to school wearing the same shirt. After strolling down the hallway, they encounter Emmitt (David Dorfman), a nerd being assaulted by Filkins (Frost) and Ronnie (Peck). Upon witnessing the two antagonists stuff Emmitt into a locker, Wade and Ryan decide to stand up for him, only to have the bullies' attention turn to them. Throughout the first week, Filkins and Ronnie make the three boys' lives a nightmare. After this treatment, they decide to hire a bodyguard to protect them. The three interview several perspective guards, but ultimately settle on Drillbit Tayler (Wilson), a discharged army ranger who is willing to work for the meager weekly wage that the boys offer. Drillbit teaches the boys how to defend themselves against Filkins and Ronnie.

Continued...

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