Such a frustrating disappointment

Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I have to admit that I didn't expect ANYTHING good from this one. The title is atrocious, the posters are lame, and the plot outline is mediocre. What could you expect?!The truth is that "Drillbit Taylor" is a dark comedy oriented for kids and teens.I mean "dark" because it deals with a hobo that lives a life of crime. Suddenly he's hired as the bodyguard of three wimpy kids.Also, the movie tells the traumatic and truth about being bullied and how hard school is when you're not popular.There are really funny bits and the typical clichés. The final "fight" could be considered the highlight of the movie.The kids got on my nerves. I don't like Owen Wilson but he's great when he plays Owen Wilson.The dialogs are sometimes funny and sometimes just stupid. Guess that's the tone the director wanted.

Three kids--best buds Wade(Nate Hartley)and Ryan(Troy Gentile)and shrimpy,spaz-like Emmett(David Dorfman)--are united by a common anxiety in their freshman year in high school: the perpetual abuse of ruthless thugs Terry Filkins(Alex Frost)and his toady Ronnie(Josh Peck). Fed up with the abuse in short order,they seek the help of a bodyguard and after going through a number of candidates whose asking prices are more than these lads can pony up,they settle on a charismatic Army vet named Drillbit Taylor(Owen Wilson,charming as a seemingly oft-unscrubbed target of abuse,both verbal and physical)who can talk the talk of a tough guy/guardian/sensei but seems to be more intent on...well,something more.That something more is mostly sponging money and swag from the kids' well-to-do families,which he helps pirate with the counseling of his fellow societal cast-offs(led by the always priceless Danny McBride). Drillbit,you see,is much more of a "homeless slacker" than "master warrior/guardian",and is in the midst of pulling off a fairly well-trailed con. All as the boys he's "taken under his wing" take to heart his lessons and simultaneously try to avoid their tormentors/get them back in the process.Nothing really new or inherently interesting in and of itself(i.e. the 'high school is unfair',heroes as persecuted,bullies being heartless jack-offs,tough-guy to weakling budding relationships,etc.),and director Steven Brill,along with co-writers Seth Rogen and Kristopher Brown(I believe both also writers of the considerably better SuperBad)don't engineer anything exceptional as a whole product. The real attractions are Wilson,milking every ounce of his own distaff,bent charms and loser charisma,McBride as the less-honorable crony of Drillbit's,and the five principle teen players just mentioned. Engaging,sympathetic,tangible and none-too-much-over-the-top characters make this less-than-two hour exercise more than tolerable,even quite funny(if not exceptional or even really memorable).Movies being increasingly more expensive(and that's even WITHOUT the 3-D glasses),it makes one like myself consider carefully which shows to try and plunk down any geld. I was initially kinda curious about this one but didn't act on it. Seeing it some time after it's gone to rentals doesn't change my verdict,but I can still feel good about giving this one a spin.

I never would have thought that I'd see director Steven Brill bring us a John Hughes type comedy in the sense that it is a fun movie with a good message. Then I found out that this movie was produced by Judd Apatow and two of the screenwriters were Seth Rogen and the late John Hughes.Owen Wilson stars in the title role. Drillbit Taylor is a low budget bodyguard who is hired by three high school freshman to protect them against a high school senior bully. Wilson does a good job at making this character funny, one we can laugh at, and one that we as an audience can relate to.Brill shows some potential to be a John Hughes type director with this movie. He puts out a good message in believing in yourself. It is worth a watch if you are a fan of Owen Wilson or any of the Frat Pack comedies.

Drillbit Taylor was a movie I had no expectations for coming in, not because I'm not Owen Wilson's biggest fan, it's just the movie didn't appeal to me that too much, but I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed quite a bit whenever Owen would try to impress the kids with his tactics, but ultimately ended up failing. It also helps that most of the kids were likable as i'm very picky on kid actors. Owen Wilson was actually pretty likable in this one, he can be a talented comedian but he overdoes it sometimes.Bottom line. This is just a nice enjoyable movie to sit down and watch to pass the time. It was much better then I thought it was gonna be, and that's really all I could ask for. Recommended7/10