Movie Review: 'Sorority Boys'

WARNING: This film is rated "R" for crude sexual content, nudity, strong language and some drug use.

"There's a long comedy tradition of guys running around in dresses," says Wally Wolodarsky, director of Sorority Boys, "I thought it would be fun to slap some women's shoes on a new generation of actors and see if they could walk without breaking an ankle." Whether it's Bosom Buddies, the TV show that launched Tom Hanks, or Dustin Hoffman's brilliant Tootsie, watching guys forced to learn how the "other half" lives has been satisfying to us girls and usually funny for both sexes.

Playboy, chauvinist fratboys Dave (Barry Watson), Adam (Michael Rosenbaum) and Doofer (Harland Williams) are the kings of Kappa Omicron Kappa fraternity (yes, that's KOK). As such, they party hearty, dis girls who don't look like supermodels and especially pick on the gals from DOG (Delta Omicron Gamma). All is status quo until the boys are framed for stealing a load of fraternity cash and are kicked out of their frat house.

With nowhere to go, the trio poses as Daisy, Adina and Roberta and are taken in as DOG members. As they plot to prove their innocence, the "girls" start to realize that their lifestyle was pretty cruel to the opposite sex. Things really get complicated when Dave (Daisy) falls for DOG President Leah (Melissa Sagemiller).

As the frustrated Adina/Adam says, "We're not supposed to see behind the curtain." The guys in this film go far into femme territory as they learn to stand in long bathroom lines, endure insulting catcalls, suffer attempted date rape and get used to tight underwear that pinches. I'd call this film Revenge of the Nerds meets Tootsie meets Animal House. Jokes, both physical and verbal, are beyond gross (the DOG sisters suffer an endless barrage of flying dildoes launched into their house by KOK guys via a super slingshot and a shower scene goes a little too far). Gross, yes but "guilty pleasure" funny for the most part.

The real saving graces of the film are the drag performances by the three leads. Especially endearing are Adina (Michael Rosenbaum of Smallville) who constantly worries that his butt is too huge and no guy would want to date him and Roberta (Harland Williams, There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber) who finds solace in girltalk about the peer pressure he suffers. Daisy (Barry Watson of 7th Heaven) makes a pretty cute girl and Watson does well in some sensitive scenes with the "real" girl he loves, played winningly by Melissa Sagemiller (Get Over It, Soul Survivors). Supporting players flesh out their characters well. Heather Matarazzo (The Princess Diaries) is hilarious as a gal with a totally irritating speaking voice and laugh.

At the core of Sorority Boys is a lesson about gender awareness, kindness and human dignity. The Under-DOGS literally win. Michael Rosenbaum says "After three days (in drag), I'd had enough. Being a woman is not fun. Your skin gets torn apart by the makeup, you get big zits and high heels are the worst. It's really changed the way I look at women and given me a new respect for the ladies."

For raunchy fun with a heart...3 out of 5 stars.

***

Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.