There are a lot of problems with Role Models (2008), despite it having a title that appeals to this Catholic.  A major reason why we sin is because we place undue pressure on ourselves to live up to the standard to which Jesus calls those who follow Him.  It is much easier to do what we want rather than to keep striving to be a better person.  Much of what I have said to this point can describe the eponymous people.  Indeed, Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Sean William Scott) wrestle with having to meet the kind of expectations required of such people, though, as usual, shorn of any kind of overt Christian message.  That is why you have The Legionnaire.  While this might sound all well and good to this point, the main issue is that it was made at a time when certain culturally insensitive jokes were still accepted in the mainstream.  I am sure you will pick them out as we go along.

Before Danny and Wheeler are tabbed to be Role Models for anyone, they work for an energy drink company called Minotaur.  Their job is to go around to area schools and convince kids to drink their poison (as Danny comes to see it) instead of doing drugs.  Danny is the spokesman while Wheeler dresses up as the mythical mascot.  They are not above making cracks about what they are doing, though it is Danny who is clearly the most miserable.  His sour attitude is evident when, upon returning to their office, the employees throw a party for Danny’s tenth anniversary with the company.  He is little thrilled by the gesture, even though his girlfriend, Beth (Elizabeth Banks), is present and encouraging him.  She is disappointed by his poor attitude, something that carries over into the next morning as he incessantly complains while they get coffee.  My Catholic complaint is that they are cohabitating before marriage, but I did not write the movie.  She lets him know of her displeasure before they part.  As he begins his day with Wheeler wondering what is missing in his life before Danny comes up with the urge to propose to Beth.  It is spur of the moment, bursting into her office where she works as a lawyer while she is with a client, feverishly asking for her hand.  Not only does she refuse, but she says she is moving out.  He does not take this well, telling the next school that drugs are good before wrecking their minotaur shaped truck on a sculpture.  Despair can lead to sin.  Danny’s antics land him, and Wheeler as an accomplice, in jail.  Beth agrees to represent them, and the deal she is able to get is that they either spend thirty days in jail or commit themselves to a court ordered 150 hours of community service.  Not wanting to undergo any period behind bars, Danny and Wheeler choose the latter of their options.  Hence, they are sent to Sturdy Wings, an organization started by former drug addict Gayle (Jane Lynch), to give kids struggling with difficult family situations what is suggested in the title.  Upon completing their orientation, Gayle personally introduces Danny and Wheeler to the child they will be mentoring.  Danny is paired with Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a teenager who is into live action role playing (larping), though the group who does this with has a different name for it.  Wheeler is introduced to Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson).  Ronnie is ten, but has the foul mouth of an adult and immediately, and falsely, screams that Wheeler is trying to get the child to pull down his pants.  I point this out only to contextualize the dynamic between Ronnie and Wheeler.  In any case, neither of them are thrilled with the notion of spending the next month plus with these kids, much less another hour.  Augie brings Danny to one of the larp battles, and Danny stands to the side, scoffing and disinterested.  Meanwhile, Ronnie does everything in his power to sabotage Wheeler’s efforts to finish his required hours.  Though Danny and Wheeler claim that they do not see themselves sticking it out, even contemplating prison, there is a turning point when they go on a Sturdy Wings camping trip.  During it, though Danny admits just being there only because he is supposed to be, he is touched when Augie shows Danny the larping patch he is sewing for his mentor.  What brings Ronnie and Wheeler together is not in keeping with Christian chastity, and is best left unsaid.  While bonds are forming, as these things so typically go in these kinds of films, problems arise.  At yet another larping contest, Augie claims to kill Argotron (Ken Jeong), king of the ruling nation of their club.  When King Argotron denies it, the others start ganging up on a crying Augie.  Danny takes it as bullying, shoving King Argotron for lying.  This behavior leads to Augie and Danny being banned, a devastating turn of events for Augie.  With Ronnie and Wheeler, their trouble comes when Wheeler goes to have relations with a woman he meets at a party, leaving Ronnie to walk home by himself across town. These actions happen before their 150 hours are completed, meaning Danny and Wheeler are likely going to go to jail. Because their experiences have changed them for the better, they decide to make amends regardless of what it means for their freedom.  Danny starts by going to King Argotron to ask that Danny and Augie be allowed to once more take part in larping.  The “ruler” agrees, though it is clear he has ulterior motives.  For Wheeler, he speaks to Karen (Nicole Randall Johnson), Ronnie’s mother, to seek permission to continue to be a mentor to Ronnie after Wheeler gets out of prison.  It all comes together for the final larping battle, with Ronnie and Wheeler joining Augie and Danny to form a new nation.  Inevitably, it comes down to King Argotron and Augie, with assistance from Danny, with Augie emerging triumphant . . . until he is killed by Sarah (Allie Stamler).  This is okay, though, as Augie has a crush on her.  In the aftermath, Beth and Gayle are on hand to tell Danny and Wheeler that they will be avoiding jail time after all, and Danny woos Beth by singing to her.

What did not come through in my description of Role Models are the culturally insensitive jokes that I mentioned in the introduction.  The crude behavior, particularly on Ronnie and Wheeler’s part, can be considered insensitive to Christians like me, or women in general.  The worst, though, are the number of jabs at homosexuals.  I have already talked about sin, and homosexuality is one of them.  The Catholic Church continues to teach as much, no matter how some people might interpret Pope Francis’ actions and words differently.  What that does not mean is that we get to poke fun at them or put them down.  Sure, acting on a same-sex impulse may be a turning away from God, but so are Wheeler’s actions when he has sex with a woman at a party when he is supposed to be watching Ronnie.  It is made doubly worse by the fact that a grown man decided to put a child in that environment in the first place.  Does God still love Wheeler just as much as He does homosexuals?  Of course he does, and like everyone else, they are worthy of dignity.  All of us are sinners, but God cares for all of us equally.  What He would rather have us do, aside from not giving into the impulses already described, is to model His love for one another.  This involves building up one another, especially emotionally, which is what a role model is meant to do.  I know that today, given the scandals involving children being taken advantage of by adults, that such people are somewhat taboo.  As a former youth minister, I know that there is no way we would have let an adult and a child go off and be alone with each other.  There are rules about this now in light of the scandals discussed a moment ago.  Yet, you do not have to put yourself in a risky situation to be an example of God’s love for others.  A kind word or a helping hand in a pinch can do wonders for the soul.

Role Models would be much different if it was made in 2024.  I say that because there is a kernel of a good message in the film.  I prefer to get them from sources that are less obfuscating.  Hence, I would avoid this movie entirely.