The year 2003 is packed with comic and delight for DreamWorks SKG. The studio has lined up four comedies this year, each with a unique story, character and featuring a different tone and style. Old School is the first saga of those four comical films that is directed by Todd Philips (Road Trip). It is somewhat of a second chapter to the 2000 hit comedy Road Trip which starred Breckin Meyer and Seann William Scott. Many of you are perhaps double-minded on this flick and might be comparing it to gross-out comedies like American Pie. Now I haven't seen that movie but I think I can easily say that Old School is nothing like that or Road Trip. It is somewhat childish and senseless at times but overall it is very mature and enjoyable film.

Mitch (Luke Wilson) decides to fly back home after leaving his business meeting to propose his girlfriend. Upon arrival, he witnesses a horrific scene involving her that leads to the end of their relationship. After seeing him down, his best friends Beanie (Vince Vaughn) and Frank (Will Ferrell) decide to give some emotional support. Yea, alright. Their solution to Luke's problem is to open up a frat ernity group "for the men and by the men".

Luke Wilson who has that innocent look like David Schwimmer is the perfect choice for this role. His character being uptight, also is a wild party animal, if he gets the opportunity. Among the three, I perceive him as probably the most normal guy. I didn't love his acting but I didn't hate it either. Eventhough, he is the leading star, his performance didn't quite pull me in. I don't believe it is his fault but more of a character issue. The fact that his character somewhat of a normal and wasn't exaggerated, it didn't really click. People like to see characters that reflects them but with an exaggeration. We see such characters in Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell but not so much in Luke Wilson.

For me, Vince Vaughn stole the film. I haven't seen much of his work and didn't like him at all in Jurassic Park 2 but he is dynamite in Old School. The unique feature about this young actor is his ability to make people laugh with no expressions whatsoever. As the owner of electronic store, Speaker City, Beanie (Vaughn) is the acting manager of the fraternity Group who organizes every single event, sponsors and markets his fellow men. I loved the scenes where he tells his 7 or so year old son to cover his ear when discussing adult matters with his best friends. I think the word Ear Muffs will become a household word for many.

The goofiest among them all yet with a tender heart is Will Ferrell (Frank). In many ways, his character reminded me of Kramer from Seinfeld. The most recently wedded, Frank and his wife (played by Perrey Reeves) face marital problems and end up finding their own way of dealing with it.

Ferrell stands out in all of his scenes but when he gets injected in his neck by accident (as seen in the trailer), the performance that he puts out there will crack you up. Despite being proportionately huge, his body is flexible to almost everything.

The additional characters like Blue (the Old Guy) Gordon (Jeremy Piven), Nicole played by Ellen Pompeo and the entire fraternity team have a great chemistry. Piven plays the college Dean who's objective is to close down the fraternity group. He is one of those high school/college nerds who always studied during their free time and never participated in any extra circular activities or even went out with friends. He delivers his character with honesty and ensures that the audience hates him for his nerdy behavior.

Pompeo stars plays a single mom involved in a relationship, has had a crush on Luke since the early college days. She has the most beautiful smile that stretches out widely on h er face which is so beneficial to her character. According to IMDB.com, she plays Marci in Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (can someone remind me which scene?) and also has a role in Daredevil; I don't recall seeing her in that as well.

Producer Ivan Reitman and director Todd Phillips have done a great job in bringing this comedy to the big screen. I think Reitman should consider producing more and give the young directors opportunity instead of helming the camera himself. For some reason, Old School was unlike any other comedy I have ever seen. It had a set tone from the start which many comedies fail to achieve and that helped the script and characters progress at a pace. Todd's script isn't just few jokes here and there but a fun wagon filled with original dialogues and colorful characters.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this film and glad to see DreamWorks releasing yet another comedy that works at many levels. It is not a heart-warming comedy and not a stupid comedy either. It would be great to see the creators of this film to helm another similar project focusing on married life rather than school.