School for Scoundrels seems undecided whether it wants to be a (yawn) conventional romantic comedy, or a quirky offbeat indie picture more typical of its stars Jon Heyder and Billy Bob Thornton. The presence of Sarah Silverman in the cast made me expect more of the latter, but alas, she is as underused in this plot as she was in School of Rock - a few biting moments, but not enough screen time. Jacinda Barrett is ornamental as the obvious love interest, but sleep walks through the part. There is no explanation of her motivations for behaviour that leaps over hugely improbable plot gaps (none atypical of the rom com genre. Billy Bob is consistently restrained but over the top at once - more Bad Santa than Astronaut Farmer. Heyder seems misused, misdirected or miscast. Having outgrown the high school roles, he seems uncertain whether he is Tom Hanks boyish leading man, or Mathew Broderick's adolescent twit in an adult body.
There are enough plot twists to keep the movie vaguely amusing, but it never grows wings and soars above the ordinary.
There are enough plot twists to keep the movie vaguely amusing, but it never grows wings and soars above the ordinary.