Product: Sorority Boys (2002)
Rating: 3.0
Hilarious - Ridiculous!, but Hilarious!
Sorority Boys is a movie that we've seen done a dozen different ways over the years - - and yet, it is a fresh retelling of the tale. Hilariously so.In a very brief nutshell, the plot is this: When three of the most popular brothers of the fraternity KOK (get it? - it's very lame, but let it alone), are accused of stealing all the money required to throw a huge shindig, they are thrown out of the fraternity. In a half-baked attempt to retrieve a video tape that shows the real culprit, the three dress as girls and try to infiltrate the KOK frat house. They fail and are somehow invited to join the DOG sorority (lame again, but leave it alone) where they will plan their revenge on their frat.First of all, this movie shares no ground with reality. Just know that going in and you will have a heck of a good time watching this movie. It is part "Animal House," part "What's Love Got to Do with It?," and part "Some Like it Hot." Of the three boys who go in drag, Barry Watson (of TV's 7th Heaven) is the only one who might remotely be convincing as a girl. It seems that no real concerted attempt was made to disguise or cover up the boys' dark beard traces. It is almost a wink to the audience that we are watching camp and that the whole film is for fun. Indeed, the other characters never seem to notice the beards or the adam's apples present in the boys. We are even supposed to believe that one of the boys continually showers with a near sighted sorority sister without the girl ever discovering what is really "poking her in the bottom." The actors seem to have a lot of fun with their "female" selves and play their parts deftly. It is quite funny to watch one of the characters fuss over his perceived "fat *ss," while Watson knowingly admits he makes a beautiful woman. You would think that a film of this caliber would have shown its best scenes in the trailers, but that is not the case here.This movie is absolutely hilarious in many instances and is also ridiculously silly throughout. The filmmakers knew this when they made it. The actors knew it when they were making it. Well, then, the audience should know that when they view it. It is a fun movie!The nod to "Animal House" is apparent to someone as old as I am in that two of the actors from that film are prominently featured in cameo roles: the Dean of Students from Animal House plays a lascivious old man in this film; and Niedermieir from Animal House appears as the "go to" man for Barry Watson's character in his search for employment after he graduates.The one big misfire in this film is the fact that Watson's character's job acceptance and his later revealing his alter ego are never tied together. Somehow it seems one should have had something to do with the other.But this film isn't about a deep plot. It's a film with an actual plot that was created as a vehicle for some immensely entertaining schtick and some more than decent acting and comedy.I think you'll like this one!