Old School is extremely juvenile but it's also very funny. On the other hand, I did see it right after a screening of Bringing Down the House, making it all the more hilarious.

Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell play thirty-something pals who form a fraternity in an attempt to cling to their youth. Wilson sees it as a possible opportunity to meet women after taking a break from his sex-crazed girlfriend (played by Juliette Lewis). Vaughn is just hoping to resuscitate the good-times of his youth. Ferrell, a goofy newlywed, sees it as a chance to get back in touch with his alter ego; an outrageous party monster known as Frank the Tank. Old School was directed by Todd Phillips, a film maker who's no stranger to films about fraternities (his debut was a documentary about fraternity hazing called Frat House). Old School is a go-for-broke comedy that delivers the funny scene after scene. True, much of the humor is of the raunchy variety, but it worked-- I found myself howling with laughter throughout. In keeping with it's title, this movie offers up an old school comical sensibility. As I watched it, I was instantly reminded of such 70's and 80's treasures as Animal House, Bachelor Party, Stripes, and Revenge of the Nerds.

Wilson (brother of the hilarious Owen) plays his role straight, and he has a breezy, likable charm. As he did so effectively in Swingers, Vaughn once again plays the smug smart ass, but with a big heart underneath it all.. There's one moment in the film where advances by a young college girl are met with an unexpected reaction, and watching him cover his kid's ears every time he uses a vulgarity is both hilarious and sweet. As one would expect, it is Ferrell who steals the show with his edgy, goofball charm. The ex-Saturday Night Live veteran will do anything for a laugh, including streaking through the city at night. But with all his nutty bravado, there is a surprising sense of sincerity that makes this character engaging and multi-dimensional. Old School is also populated with hilarious supporting players including Jeremy Piven as a scheming Dean at a local college, and talk show host Craig Kilborn as the sleazy boyfriend of the woman Wilson has eyes for.

There isn't anything particularly fresh about the writing in Old School. Much of these hijinks we've seen before. I just admired the energy and liveliness in this picture. Phillips has the good sense to turn these actors loose and let them do their thing.

There is no doubt in my mind that this movie will offend a lot of people. Old School features a clown drinking alcohol, kids getting knocked around by adults and an elderly man wrestling with young, naked women, but because of it©ös consistently innocuous approach, none of this stuff felt off-color. Phillips has set a tone and never deviates from it. This film has a far better sense of humor than his last picture, the sporadically entertaining and equally raunchy Road Trip.

Old School is immature, delightfully mean-spirited and morally bankrupt, but because it's so damn funny, it works in the same way There©ös Something About Mary worked. When I watch a comedy, I want to laugh. and in the School of Hard yuks, this film gets high marks.