Stealing Harvard

The plot is as simple as the film itself: John (Jason Lee) once made a promise to his niece that if she ever got accepted to college, he would pay her way. When the time arrives, he finds himself broke, and resorts to asking his loser buddy, Duff (Tom Green), for help. Clichés and hi-jinks ensue.

The film is surprisingly sterilized, especially when you consider its two stars: Jason Lee, a Kevin Smith alum, and Tom Green, the gross-out king who wrote, directed and starred in "Freddy Got Fingered." Lee is likable and congenial, if a bit soft, while Green relies more on physical humor and less on substance. He utters a few humorous lines here and there, but he is, in essence, just a prop. There are several other talented comedic actors such as Leslie Mann ("Big Daddy"), Megan Mullally (TV's "Will & Grace"), John C. McGinley (TV's "Scrubs") and of course, the amazing Martin Starr (TV's "Freaks & Geeks") who help keep the film fresh and funny, but unfortunately there's just not enough of them. The film is stacked with great and hilarious actors, but rarely takes advantage of this fact. As far as the humor goes, it forgoes the gross-out comedy of the time in an effort to yield rather tame and inoffensive results. And in its brief 82 minutes, it works. "Stealing Harvard" is hardly a classic, but if one were to sit down on a dead Sunday afternoon, kick back and relax with few expectations, it works. You'll likely get a few solid chuckles out of it, and it's innocent and simplistic plot makes for a good "turning off the brain" time.

First off, this movie SHOULD have been great. Bruce McCulloch directing? Yeah! And the cast is comedy gold: Jason Lee, Tom Green, Leslie Mann, Dennis Farina, John C. McGinley, Megan Mullally... I mean, even the women are funny! The only thing that's really lacking is, sadly, the script.

Everyone is funny, they just don't have enough to work with. The characters are 2D, the plot paper thin, and everything is just too convenient. Now I didn't expect anything weighty or life changing. Just something worth caring about.

Don't get me wrong, the movie IS funny. Tom Green is great, providing some hilarious moments (Drinking milk and then suddenly pouring lemon juice in his mouth, for instance.) For the most part though, the humor relies entirely on his performance, not the strength of the writing. Also, Jason Lee is cast here as the Straight, the regular guy just trying to get his life in order. Personally, I much prefer him as the goofy sidekick type (i.e. Tom Green).

All in all, this makes for a palatable little episodic comedy. But there's not enough to sink your teeth into. You can't get involved enough to really let go and laugh.

I saw this movie because Tom Green and Jason Lee was in it. I know that that doesn't really gaurentee anything, seeing as how they both have a spotted track record. Anyway, it wasn't horrible, and I guess it had its moments of decent laughter, but it wasn't all that great. Nothing to spectacular here, but what did you expect.

John Plummer is engaged to Elaine, who makes baskets for special occasions. John works for Elaine's father at Homespital, a medical supply company. John and Elaine finally have saved $30,000, enough money to buy a house.

But there is a problem. Years ago, John made a promise to his niece Noreen, whose mother Patty is considered "trailer trash" (the term is used in the movie), and whose father is unknown. Noreen was eliminated early in a spelling bee, and John told her she wasn't dumb. In fact, he said he would pay for Noreen's college education. And the promise is preserved on videotape.

Surprise! Noreen has been accepted to Harvard. And she is getting financial aid and she has saved money from her job handling cattle carcasses. So she only needs ... guess how much? John can't tell Elaine they can't buy a house. And her father doesn't respect him as it is. So John turns to his friend Duff, a landscaper who still lives with his mother. John has some ideas, but they generally involve breaking the law. For example, Duff's Uncle Jack runs a liquor store and has lots of money collected from selling lottery tickets, guarded by a clerk who supposedly offers no threat from anyone wanting to steal it.

And David Loach was a former classmate and a loser, but he seems to have money to lend, and a bunch of goons to make sure he is repaid. Where does he get his money? Well, you'll find out ONE way ...

And Duff's client who won't lock his safe (what was his landscaper doing INSIDE the house?) and who misses his late wife. This is good for some of the raunchiest but also funniest gags in the whole movie.

I think a lot of people will consider Tom Green and John McGinley to be the standout performers in this movie. I don't like either of them, but they both do quite a good job. So does Dennis Farina.

Elaine is not a pleasant character for the most part, but when she gets excited, she's really quirky. Plus she's pretty. John is normal, and I wouldn't have even recognized Jason Lee without the mustache he had in a flashback. He's just mostly there, and not that much like Earl Hickey. Earl is a loser who had to turn to crime when he didn't have a job, and ... wait a minute. But, wait, see, John Plummer has a job, and he doesn't NEED to commit crimes.

The important thing is that Green and Lee are often hilarious together, a couple of bumbling idiots.

"Will and Grace" fans need not watch for Megan Mullally, because Patty is nothing like Karen. They might still like her and the movie for other reasons. Actually, I can think of one big reason ...

There is one tender scene related to the fact that Patty and John lost their parents when John was 18. The movie opens with scenes from that time in John's life, and the funeral scene makes more sense after the scene with the two of them later.

Martin Starr is really funny as the liquor store clerk who was more savvy than our heroes may have expected.

It could have been better, but I was mostly happy. Where this is funny, it's really funny. And you must be able to handle crude humor.

One more thing: I usually stay around until the credits end because I often like to see what songs were used. In this movie, you absolutely must watch until the very end for the outtakes. Some of them are hilarious.

Its a good movie to watch if you want a good laugh. It isn't anything to take seriously. Its about a man who is going to marry a pretty young lady who is his boss's daughter. She was brought up by her rich overly protective father. It seems he held her back and; therefore, she did not have that many friends. The relationship with her father was a little weird but it was supposed to be funny. When his girlfiend gives him good news, that they've saved enough money to buy a house, everything seems to be going perfect. Its a great way to start the movie. When he finds out that he is expected to pay his nieces college tuition, this is where the excitement starts. "How does he get the money?" The way in which he trys to get the money is goofy but funny. Its funny to see how he tries to steel money and never fails each time. It puts on the excitement when his girl friend knows he is up to something and thinks he is cheating on her. I bought the tape cause it was a cheap price and I enjoyed the movie. I don't watch it all the time but I do enjoy it when I do.