Drillbit Taylor
2008 · Directed by Steven Brill
Original language: English
- comedy
The story
Dealing with a sociopathic school bully, three high school freshmen hire a low-budget bodyguard to protect them, not realizing he is just a homeless beggar and petty thief looking for some easy cash.
What it’s like
Bright, flat suburban daylight over school hallways, parking lots and a sunny California beach, with the frame kept plain and the camera mostly sitting still so the broad performances carry the scene. The palette is ordinary and warm, the picture clean and glossy in the way studio comedies of the late 2000s usually were, and the sound is lively pop-rock and quick-cut comic music that keeps the energy up. The vibe is goofy, scrappy and easygoing, with a light sheen of teen-movie embarrassment. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a background watch while folding laundry, or a comfort rewatch with friends who like their comedy loud. The pacing is brisk and sketch-like, with many small gags and misfires rather than slow build, and the emotional register stays playful even when feelings get sincere. Its central figures move from mistrust toward a rough, unlikely loyalty, and the film gently pokes at a con man who slowly finds himself caring about three outcast kids. Intensity is mild to moderate: scuffles, slapstick punches and a bully's menace, with some crude language and jokes, but no gore and no sexual content on screen. It is for people who want a silly, undemanding comedy with a soft heart and no real danger.
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