Role Models (2008) Review: Parental Guide & Inappropriate Scenes

Few comedies from the late 2000s still manage to spark conversations about mentorship and growing up the way Role Models does, a 2008 David Wain-directed film that pairs Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as energy drink salesmen forced into a youth mentorship program. It’s a raunchy comedy, but underneath the crude jokes and R-rated content lies a surprisingly sincere look at what it means to be a role model.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77% ·
Director: David Wain ·
Release Year: 2008 ·
MPAA Rating: R

Whether you’re a parent weighing the film’s suitability or just curious about its critical reception, this guide covers both the movie itself and the broader psychology of role models.

Five key facts, one pattern: the film earned solid reviews but carries mature content that demands parental awareness.

Is Role Models a Good Film?

Critical reception and audience score

According to Wikipedia’s summary of Rotten Tomatoes coverage, the film holds a 77% approval rating based on 162 reviews, with the critics’ consensus calling it “a crude comedy with a heart.” Metacritic assigns a score of 61 out of 100, indicating “generally positive reviews.” On IMDb, user ratings average 6.9/10. The film was named Best Comedy Film of 2008 by IGN (Wikipedia summary).

What makes Role Models stand out?

Reviewer James Berardinelli of Reelviews describes it as “a familiar PG-rated plot updated with enough profanity and nudity to earn an R rating.” Most critics agree that the chemistry between Rudd and Scott, and the surprisingly heartfelt mentorship subplot, elevate the film beyond typical raunchy comedies. However, as Movieguide points out, “the clean parts are extremely funny,” but the abundant foul language and crude content render it unacceptable for younger viewers.

The pattern: critics praise the comedy and heart, but the R rating signals a clear divide between adult audiences and the teens who might benefit from its mentorship message.

Can My 12 Year Old Watch Role Models?

MPAA rating and content warnings

The IMDb Parents Guide lists the film’s sex and nudity as moderate, profanity as severe, violence and gore as mild, and alcohol/drugs/smoking as moderate. There are no frightening or intense scenes. The MPAA’s official reason for the R rating is “crude and sexual content, strong language, and nudity.”

Common Sense Media review

Although we lack a direct URL, Kids-In-Mind rates the movie 8.3.7 for sex/nudity, violence/gore, and language — a high score across all three categories. Movieguide calls the film “completely unacceptable” due to “crude sexual references with a fifth grader obsessed with women’s breasts and occasional obscenities.”

The trade-off: younger teens miss out on a film with a positive message about mentorship, but the explicit content makes it a tough sell for parents. Most parental guides recommend waiting until at least age 14.

What Are the Inappropriate Scenes in Role Models?

Crude humor and sexual references

Kids-In-Mind reports a scene with a young woman removing her dress to reveal bare breasts and skimpy panties. The film features a fifth-grade character obsessed with women’s chests, and there are jokes about homosexuality and light references to occult sorcery in a role-playing game (Movieguide).

Drug use and drinking

The IMDb Parents Guide notes an “energy drink bender” scene where characters consume large amounts of caffeinated beverages, and there is moderate alcohol use and drug references throughout.

Violence and language

Violence is mild but present in medieval role-play combat sequences. Profanity is constant and severe, with pervasive use of strong language. The film’s R rating is a direct result of the combination of these elements.

The implication: the film’s R rating isn’t just for show; each category of content pushes the boundary of what most parents would consider acceptable for young teens. A 12-year-old watching this would encounter significant exposure to adult themes.

What Do Psychologists Say About Role Models?

The importance of role models in development

Psychologists emphasize that role models provide guidance, motivation, and a template for behavior. According to Psychology Today, “role models can shape our goals and behaviors; it’s important to choose wisely.” The film’s narrative — two flawed adults learning to be positive influences — mirrors this research.

How role models influence behavior

Studies show that both real-life and fictional role models can inspire people to set higher goals and adopt prosocial behaviors. The characters in Role Models initially neglect the kids but eventually model healthy relationships (Kids-In-Mind).

Potential negative effects

Unrealistic or inappropriate role models can cause harm, especially in children. The film’s explicit content and crude humor may model behaviors parents don’t want their children to imitate. Movieguide warns that the movie’s “jokes about homosexuality” and “occult sorcery” in a fantasy game could be problematic.

The catch: while the film intentionally shows anti-role models turning into positive ones, the explicit packaging makes it difficult to use as a teaching tool for younger audiences.

What Are Examples of Positive Role Models?

Famous positive role models

Commonly cited examples include Martin Luther King Jr. (Wikipedia), Marie Curie (Wikipedia), and Nelson Mandela (read more). These figures embody perseverance, compassion, and social change.

Everyday role models: teachers, parents

Research shows that the most influential role models are often the people closest to us — parents, teachers, coaches. Their daily actions provide consistent examples of integrity and hard work.

Fictional role models

Fictional characters can also serve as role models. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird (Wikipedia) is a classic example of moral courage. Christopher Reeve‘s portrayal of Superman — and his real-life advocacy after paralysis — also offers a powerful example (read more).

Why this matters: the film Role Models intentionally contrasts bad mentors (the two salesmen) with good ones (the medieval role‑play enthusiasts), showing that role models come in unexpected packages.

Quotes From Critics and Parental Guides

“The clean parts are extremely funny, but the film contains abundant foul language, crude sexual content, brief nudity, and some drug references.”

Movieguide

“A familiar PG-rated plot updated with enough profanity and nudity to earn an R rating.”

Reelviews

For parents considering whether to let their teen watch, the verdict is clear: the film’s heart is in the right place, but its language and content require mature viewers. The same can be said for real-life role models — they matter, but choosing the right examples is essential. For parents in the United States, the choice is straightforward: wait until at least age 14, or watch together and discuss.

Frequently Asked Questions