MovieMantz Review: ‘Drillbit Taylor’

“You Know the Drill(bit)”

I don’t know what’s worse – trying to watch “Drillbit Taylor” without thinking about the alleged suicide attempt of its star late last summer, or the fact that this lame attempt at a comedy came from the filmmakers behind last year’s critically-acclaimed and commercial hits “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.”

Co-produced by Judd Apatow (who directed “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up”) and co-written by Seth Rogen (who starred in “Knocked Up” and co-wrote “Superbad”), “Drillbit Taylor” feels like it was phoned-in from all involved – especially Owen Wilson, whose trademark slacker charm is off-balance with a performance that’s too much slacker and not enough charm.

Wilson plays Drillbit Taylor, a homeless vet who wanders the streets of Santa Monica looking for his next meal ticket. He finds it in the form of three nerdy high school freshmen, all of whom need protection from the bullies who are terrorizing them on a daily basis. They hire Drillbit to be their bodyguard, but with their meager earnings, they soon realize that you get what you pay for.

The problem is, that applies to the film as well. The story is derivative, the jokes are lazy and this family-friendly version of “Superbad” just never realizes its full potential. The knee-jerk reaction might be to blame Apatow and Rogen, but with a director like Steven Brill at the helm – he directed juvenile turkeys like “Little Nicky” and “Without a Paddle” – what did you expect?

After dealing with some well-publicized personal problems, Owen Wilson could have used a hit. Too bad “Drillbit” isn’t it, since the easygoing charm he displayed so well in “The Wedding Crashers” and “You, Me and Dupree” seems to have run its course. So if you’re looking for a movie with a similar theme, take my advice and rent the 1980 classic “My Bodyguard” instead.

VERDICT: SKIP IT!

‘DRILLBIT TAYLOR

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