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Drillbit Taylor (2008)

Director: Steven Brill

Time Out rating

Average user rating

23 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Writer Seth Rogen and producer Judd Apatow created a couple of winning geeks in ‘Superbad’, but this tamer version of the fat kid/thin kid story fails to deliver the same laughs. Based on an idea by John Hughes, it stars Troy Gentile and Nate Hartley as a moderately amusing pair of nerds who fail to impress on their first day of high school (turning up wearing the same shirt doesn’t help).

After defending Emmit (David Dorfman) from the school bully, they become perennial victims and decide to hire a bodyguard, Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson). Taylor is a homeless con artist who’s out to rob the children, but their charms grow on him as he trains them up and poses as a teacher to protect them. Wilson’s mix of casual criminality and ineptitude is sometimes funny but rarely endearing: his character’s dark intentions are at odds with the film’s breezy, broad tone. ‘Drillbit Taylor’ is a bit of a giggle, but it lacks bite and direction: even the old prom showdown routine would have enlivened this aimless comedy.

Author: Anna Smith 2008-03-25 10:59:47

Time Out London Issue 1962 March 27 – April 2

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User reviews of this film

Luke D said...

Posted on Sep 23 2009 19:08 I think its not Apatows best but still it certinly has its moments, three kids are very likable and very funny cameos that score some laugh out load scenes.

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who da ya think said...

Posted on Apr 23 2008 19:22 ****** shite !!! bbooooo

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usman said...

Posted on Apr 16 2008 19:17 dumb arse comedy without any sparkle -wasting wilson in the worst way possible

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usman khawaja said...

Posted on Apr 16 2008 19:16 this was one of the most drilling exorcisms in recent american comedy genre
i love owen wilson ,he was even good in u,me and dupree ,but here he is a vagabond who takes nude showers by the roadside on long beach while teaching in a suit and tie at a school in suburban LA ,this was dumb enough but then so are the 3 kids who hire him as a personal bodyguard from the internet to save them from some atrocious bullying at school.
he romances and shags a fellow teacher who is one the worst actresses of recent times and then sets on teaching the bad bully boys-there are 2 of them- a lesson ,
while these bull terriers terrorise the 3 protagonists in the school on cctv as well as u-tube ,
these days high school kids upload more movies then uni students -no one believes the 3 victims after they have had virtually been murdered in public .
the plot is as trashy as the execution and the jokes are lame and virtually as dumb as the kids .
the saving grace is wilson -but can he save a really tasteless school comedy that is so pathetic ,it becomes a tragedy -well ,the answer is a plain -no
what could have been a sparkling comedy about bully culture is reduced to showing mr.wilsons bare arse to elicit laughs =enough said
usman khawaja -jbz7879

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mickey said...

Posted on Apr 12 2008 16:00 this was such a great moviee. i would definetely recomend it. also did anyone notice that "Emmet" was also in "the ring" which is a scary movie. :)

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Alan Smithee said...

Posted on Apr 08 2008 15:56 Re Drew's correction, the author of the review is a "she" not a "he". Valid point though.

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sum1 said...

Posted on Apr 08 2008 13:00 j u hav no humor

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.x.sophiie.x. said...

Posted on Apr 08 2008 09:06 i havent watched it yet im 15 is it worth wacthiin x...

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Sutheran said...

Posted on Apr 07 2008 12:25 Brilliant film... As long as you get over the fact that an 18year old was in the same class as a first year (chewing gum scene). But yes definately worth watchin, made me lol alot

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BIG JOCK said...

Posted on Apr 06 2008 23:26 I knew all along and said nothing.

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BOAB MALCOM said...

Posted on Apr 05 2008 17:42 FTP YA BASS!!!

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Leanne said...

Posted on Apr 05 2008 16:02 Loved it, i swear i was splitting my sides laughing, Owen Wilson looked so Gorgeous as usual, glad hes feeling better what a film =]

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j said...

Posted on Apr 03 2008 13:55 if you were 15 or below it would be fun...

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Reginald said...

Posted on Apr 01 2008 17:44 thought it was absolutely fantastic! went with a
group of friends and we all thoroughly enjoyed it, definately worth watching chaps. that Owen Wilson what a fellow!

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Von Dusseldoffan said...

Posted on Apr 01 2008 17:42 very very funni ic bin tiser!!! Dratch van dussen blagen hagen draffa. mit pommes!!

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