The traditional animation unit at Walt Disney Pictures has fallen on hard times, but it can take solace in the fact that the studio's live-action divisions are still churning out much, much worse product.
In fact, all it takes is one disastrous bomb like "Sorority Boys" to make the studio's rather underwhelming slate of family films (including "Return to Never Land") look like masterpieces by comparison.
No mistake about it, this lowbrow, R-rated college comedy — which is being released by Disney's Touchstone division — may be one of the lowest points in the history of the Mouse House.
A stupid "Animal House" wannabe, "Sorority Boys" is not just dull, it's downright offensive. (That the film attempts to throw in an empowerment message — after 90 minutes' worth of misogynistic gags — might be the only funny thing about it.)
The title characters are Dave (Barry Watson), unrepentant womanizer Adam (Michael Rosenbaum) and perpetually drunk and stoned Doofer (Harland Williams), frat boys who have been kicked out for allegedly swiping money from the house's "party" fund.
With nowhere left to turn, the three buds disguise themselves as women in an attempt to get back into the frat house. Instead, they find themselves unceremoniously dumped on the doorstep of a neighboring sorority, Delta Omega Gamma (or D.O.G., get it?).
To their surprise, they're warmly received by the Deltas and their leader Leah (Melissa Sagemiller). Even more odd is the fact that Dave finds himself attracted to the tough-talking feminist. So the three decide to play along with the deception, while they try to uncover evidence that will clear them and win back their frat brothers' trust.
It's bad enough that the material is so predictable and by-the-numbers. But thanks to Wally Wolodarsky's punchless direction, it's also completely laughless and seems at least twice as long as it is.
Even the cast looks desperate to get out of this one. (And what are five "Animal House" stars, including Stephen Furst and John Vernon, doing in this mess?)
"Sorority Boys" is rated R for prevalent, crude sexual humor (sight gags and references), frequent use of strong sexually related profanity, slapstick violence, simulated drug use (marijuana and the so-called "date-rape" drug), female and male nudity and brief simulated sex. Running time: 94 minutes.
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