Not that edgy, but not that bad

Rating: 8/10 (6 December 2006)

This film has an interesting twist, but does not meet its full potential. I like movies that play with notions of reality, how we perceive reality, and how we interact with the hidden forces that control our fates (Being John Malkovich, Wings of Desire, The Truman Show, anything by Terry Gillum). This film is not the best in the genre, but it is definitely worth seeing, even if you decide to wait for video.
Will Ferrel keeps his clothes on in this one. Some commentators seem to prefer him in Ricky Bobby type roles. Old School was an enjoyable movie, but actors can't keep playing the same character over and over forever.
The film almost lost me when Will Ferrel survived the bus crash. For a moment I thought it was going to be another trite Hollywood happily ever after ending. However Emma Thompson's character brought things back in the scene with Dustin Hoffman and the dynamic shifts from author-character to author-audience. The film's lesson is that we are all going to die and that virtue consists of bravely facing fate nonetheless, whether we know what that fate is or not.