School for Scoundrels
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: September 29, 2006 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
44
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
14
Negative:
9
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
58
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
As usual, Thornton remains fully committed to the performance. Viewers could make a game of scanning his face for even the slightest hint of warmth. By the end of the film, that may be the surest source of entertainment. Read full review
50
VarietyRobert Koehler
Picture seemed certain to either fly high on outrageous humor or crash under the weight of tastelessness. Instead, the movie just sits there and never comes alive. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterSheri Linden
An inert and muddled mash-up of romantic comedy and theater of stupid cruelty. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Director Todd Phillips tries for the kind of frat slaphappiness he applied so successfully to "Old School," but these boys are less scoundrels than individual salesmen for the brands of Heder and Thornton. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyChristopher Orr
This crass remake of the 1960 Robert Hamer film is kept alive for a while by director Todd Phillips (Old School), but ultimately succumbs to its weak script and hopeless typecasting. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
Ben Stiller provides a jolt of personality as a past victim who rouses himself from exile, but otherwise Todd Phillips' fitfully funny script never delivers the crude creativity or the raw energy that feeds this genre of proudly crass male-centric comedies. Read full review
50
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Clearly enamored with the endearing brand of drawly sarcasm for which Thornton has become known, the filmmakers aren't sure whether to paint Dr. P as an uncompromising villain or a mischievous teddy bear. The upshot is that Dr. P's most menacing aspect is Thornton's rather obvious hairpiece. Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
A grim experience, with too little wit and humor to compensate for its faults, and the upbeat ending feels like a cheat. Thornton is good, but not worth the price of a ticket. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
In the funniest and, coincidentally, most "Jackass"-like scene in Todd Phillips' School for Scoundrels, a planned game of paintball gets off to a bad start when the players begin shooting each other at point-blank range. Read full review
50
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
Thornton and Heder perform at about half their maximum wattage, which isn't enough to power the inert script. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldPeter Debruge
In post-"Wedding Crashers" Hollywood, the entire exercise feels dated (just as the comedy's PG-13 rating -- this in spite of a recurring rape joke -- makes it feel neutered). Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Despite the appeal of cobra-eyed Thornton and bunny-nosed Heder, Scoundrels trips early, and often. Read full review
42
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
This may be Thornton's most arch, least persuasive performance. With Heder he's a vacant scowl. With Barrett he's a threatening yet toothless Cheshire Cat. Read full review
40
EmpireSam Toy
A script that suffers the same problem as its characters -- lack of confidence -- is in dire need of a fire being lit under its arse. All involved could do with learning a thing or two from some scoundrels of the 'dirty, rotten' school. Read full review
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