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Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Luis Guzman ... see more see more... , David Cross , Horatio Sanz , Sarah Silverman , Matt Walsh , Todd Louiso , Jon Glaser , Paul Scheer , Ben Stiller , DeRay Davis , Dan Fogler

Old School director Todd Phillips takes the reins for an updated remake of the 1960 comedy, this time starring Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder as Roger, a lovelorn meter reader who enrolls in a confiden... read more read more...ce-building class in order to win the love of his dream girl, and Billy Bob Thornton as Dr. P, the scheming, egomaniacal teacher who has designs of his own for the attractive young female. The rivalry soon spins out of control, as pranks and insults fly fast and furiously in a battle to determine the ultimate "guy's guy." ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

56% liked it

105,860 ratings

Critics

25% liked it

139 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Release Date: September 23, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 13, 2007

Stats: 5,943 reviews

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Jon Heder Jon Heder Jacinda Barrett Jon Heder Thorton and Heder School For Scoundrels Ed and Director Todd Phillips School for Scoundrels School for Scoundrels School for Scoundrels School for Scoundrels
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Flixster Reviews (5,943)

  • 76Majikat
    January 26, 2011
    76Majikat
    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 , bu... read moret with more of a twist.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 31, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    B-
  • 3niR
    July 7, 2010
    3niR
    This movie was kinda funny. i didn't like the swirly thing, that was gross. Roger (Jon Heder) acted really well (although his lack of self-esteem made him look like a gay instead of weak). Amanda (Jacinda Barrett) looked beautiful and so caring. Leshar (Michael Clarke) looked gor... read moregeous in his blond wig :P (jk)
  • fb733768972
    January 14, 2010
    fb733768972
    Still lacks story, but definately a better thornton film than woodcock!
  • TheMachinist
    July 23, 2009
    TheMachinist
    "What if you're looking for, like you know... A real girlfriend?
    - Can we please get everyone laid first!? I swear, if anyone of you get a handjob out of this... I'm a miracleworker."

    Ever since 'Napoleon Dynamite', I've considered myself a fan of Jon Heder. Ok, he hasn't accomp... read morelished the same level of perfection as in 'Dynamite' but I enjoy watching his movies.

    Heder plays Roger, a meter maid from NY. He suffers from panic attacks and doesn't get along that well with people. A typical loser you might say. After he gets rejected out from a Big Brother program, he gets an advice from a friend. There's a course driven by a Doctor P that does wonders to those who have no self-esteem. To his friend it did miracles. What about Roger then?

    This film's biggest asset is its cast. Wonderful casting to a light comedy. Heder does once again a nice performance of a sweet, innocent guy but one actor manages to steal the show completely. Yes, Billy Bob Thornton that is. This film would be so much worse if it didn't have Thornton in it. Ever since 'Bad Santa', I've considered him to be a very underrated comedian. His performance does resemble his 'Bad Santa' character a bit but the way he speaks, uses his facial expressions, is somewhat of a perfect fit to the movie.

    'School for Scoundrels' features also a lot of lesser known comedians. David Cross ('Kung Fu Panda', 'Arrested Development' series) and Todd Louiso ('High Fidelity') are always a joy to look at and the same can be said of Sarah Silverman. And when Ben Stiller made a cameo.. I was sold! He manages always to put a smile on my face.

    'School for Scoundrels' has a very funny script with a decent story. Many of us have had a crush on somebody but never had the balls to do anything about it. This film shows us one side, a very funny one, on how to deal with that issue. A lot of great scenes and dialogue with good performances makes this one a really fun ride! And Luis Guzman... Another guy who puts a smile on my face, any time.

    "You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna leave that bitch! Walk out the door and start over. I don't care if she's my mother! There's a million other basements I can live in!"
  • sononothing
    October 27, 2008
    sononothing
    I'll admit that one of my guilty pleasures is to watch Billy Bob Thornton yell profanities at people and the chance to see him do it to Napoleon Dynamite was a great opportunity. School of Scoundrels is about a NYC meter maid (Jon Heder) who suffers from low self esteem and ends ... read moreup enrolling in a class taught by Dr. P (Thornton) who will turn him into a self confident beast.

    What sounds like a great idea quickly turns into formula as the pair compete for the affections of the same woman. Does this sound familiar? That's because it was done in Anger Management a few years ago. At this point it crashes into the ground and by the last twenty minutes you wonder how Heder has a career in Hollywood at all. A big disappointment.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    September 10, 2008
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    Dr. P: "There are two kinds of men in the world: those who run shit, like me, and those who eat shit, like you."

    An unlucky meter reader enrolls in a confidence building class so he can win the love of the girl of his dreams. The class turns out to be something quite diff... read moreerent when it becomes clear to the young man that his professor has his sights set on the same girl.

    This is a very, very typical movie. As soon as one sees the leading lady, the plot outline is clear: guy charms lady, guy seemingly betrays lady, guy gives speech, guy gets girl in the end. It's annoying how, in a movie filled with actors I love, they couldn't manage anything over okay.

    Don't be mistaken, though; there are some very funny moments in the movie. Seeing Heder nail Billy Bob over and over again on the tennis court was probably the highlight of the movie for me. Some parts are so typical it hurts, though, like the ending in the airport. Every plot "twist" was so obvious that it had me laughing, in a bad way.

    3/5
  • bhobbs1985
    May 25, 2008
    bhobbs1985
    This movie has a bunch of halarious scenes. Billy Bob Thorton and Jon Heder bring this movie to life. I'm not so sure it would of been near as good with any other actors but them, but because it is them, I say 5-stars!
    Funny, great plot, great actors, and a fun to watch film. I... read more personally think it was Jon Heders best film yet.
  • hoganshero
    May 3, 2008
    hoganshero
    This was really predictable, and the side characters were better than the leads.
  • barrys
    December 24, 2007
    barrys
    This is a comedy of very dark humor which I enjoy. Its not the greatest but it simply fulfills its purpose of giving a enjoyable moment to the viewer. The story is convincing. A loser living in New York with a crappy job, and no self-esteem seeks for help with a man called Dr. P ... read moreto win the love of his neighbor Amanda. The cast is really good, Billy Bob Thornton in a role that fits him like a glove, his performance was excellent. Jon Heder also with a role that fits him really well, he is constantly evolving as an actor and a comedian. Michael Clark Duncan was hilarious, never thought he could be that funny. The brief appearance from Ben Stiller as Lonnie was really convincing. The supporting cast like Horatio Sanz, Todd Louiso and Luis Guzmán is a really good complement.

View All School for Scoundrels Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
October 2, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

Things get increasingly dopey in the final act, leading to an incredibly stupid ending, but I have to admit I laughed just enough to recommend School for Scoundrels. Full Review

September 30, 2006
Dallas Morning News

You want it to be over long before the needless epilogue that fills you in on how all these freaks turned out. Full Review

Claudia Puig
September 29, 2006
Claudia Puig, USA Today

It feels as if director Phillips was scrounging desperately for morsels with comic potential and came up empty-handed. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
September 29, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

School for Scoundrels is an exercise in advanced comedic embalming. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
September 29, 2006
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

It would require a near-lethal injection of nitrous oxide to induce laughter. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
September 29, 2006
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Despite the appeal of cobra-eyed Thornton and bunny-nosed Heder, Scoundrels trips early, and often.

Roger Moore
September 29, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

School for Scoundrels is a simply written, perfectly cast, sneaky-edgy, stab-yourself-in-the-leg-with-a-pen laugh riot. Full Review

Kyle Smith
September 29, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post

This time the pace is so weak that long periods go by without even the whiff of a joke.

Jack Mathews
September 29, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Heder's looks and mannerisms are so inherently geeky that the post-transformation Roger appears to be less a lion with a hearty roar than a dork with delusions of grandeur. Full Review

Robert Abele
September 29, 2006
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times

What's almost refreshing about Phillips' approach to comedy... is that he and co-writer Scot Armstrong like the classically unfettered fun of a silly bit played to the hilt. Full Review

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School for Scoundrels Trivia

  • In the movie School for Scoundrels how many cats did Ben Stiller have?  Answer »
  • He appear in this movies: Just Like Heaven Benchwarmers School for Scoundrels Napoleon Dynamite   Answer »
  • Which Actor Was: -Hank Grotowski In Monster's Ball -Willie In Bad Santa -Davy Crockett In The Alamo -Dan Truman In Armageddon -Dr. P In School For Scoundrels  Answer »
  • Which actor links the following movies? The Benchwarmers Just Like Heaven School for Scoundrels Napoleon Dynamite Monster House  Answer »
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