Four laughs, two smirks and a cute chick...

Stealing Harvard is an instantly forgettable caper comedy about two schmos who need $30,000 for a niece's college education. Jason Lee and Tom Green star in what amounts to a 90 minute sitcom with recycled jokes. If you chop off the opening and closing credits, the running length actually amounts to no more than 79 minutes... which, I suppose, is a blessing.

Now, there are some decent giggles in this film. For some reason, the whole 'asshole / casserole' debate made me laugh. Jason Lee has a deadpan face that lends itself well to some comedic material. And Tom Green is so ridiculous that he occasionally accidentally stumbles into some funny bits. Tom Green is capable of the occasional hilarious moment, but not when he is shackled by the demands of good taste. This film restrains him far too much and plays more like a family sitcom than anything else. His first film, Freddy Got Fingered, was a hideous mess that failed on almost every level... but at least it had balls. This movie is tame and dull.

I thought the supporting cast had some potential but none of them are on screen enough to produce consistent laughs. Leslie Mann, in particular, stood out as a beacon of talent in this mess. She is really underused in Hollywood and deserves a leading role in a romantic comedy sometime in the near future. She has Meg Ryan qualities.

Overall, I think this film is a 'so what' effort. In five years, none of us will even remember this film was made... Never mind five years... how about next week!

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - C- Richard Propes - C Jacob Hall -

Richard Propes' Comment

I admit it. I have a soft spot for Tom Green films. With the exception of "Freddy Got Fingered," Green has always managed to make me chuckle at the most ridiculous things. In "Stealing Harvard," his pairing with Jason Lee works much better than it should. This film is similar in tone to Green's breakthrough film, "Road Trip," in which his Barry Manilow character was goofy but oddly adorable. If you're a Tom Green fan, this film will make you laugh. If you abhor Green's humor, then stay away.

Jacob Hall's Comment

n/a