DRILLBIT TAYLOR **

Directed by Steven Brill (Mr. Deeds) and featuring Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, David Dorfman, and Alex Frost. Rated PG-13 for crude sexual references throughout, strong bullying, language, drug references and partial nudity, this modestly humorous drama is one hour and forty-two minutes long.

After being harassed by a school bully (Frost), three high school freshmen (Hartley, Gentile and Dorfman) hire a former soldier of fortune (Wilson) as a bodyguard, only to find out he isn't who he said he was and has an agenda of his own. In attempting to help the boys he passes himself off as a substitute teacher without difficulty and manages to strike up a romantic attachment with a fellow teacher (Mann).

This wasn't at all what I expected and what the previews lead you to believe. Thus, my slightly lower rating. The film isn't bad and even mildly enjoyable, but it's far from what I'd class as a comedy, at least the kind of comedies that involve nerdy high schoolers we've come to expect. It's basically a coming of age drama concerning the three teens and an immature man finally grows up drama as far as Wilson is concerned. I think you'll be a lot happier if you wait for the DVD, the cost/benefit ratio is much better when the price isn't as high.