rillbit Taylor” accomplishes a rare feat in its PG-13 rating, since it maintains the decidedly R-rated feel of last year’s “Superbad.” Most of the vulgarity that made Judd Apatow’s previous production inappropriately hilarious has absconded to unknown horizons, leaving this new venture to utilize craftier – and cleaner – means of achieving laughs. Not necessarily more intelligent but certainly less crude, the comparably amusing cast members (with returning writer Seth Rogen, accompanied by the legendary John Hughes) all find their perfect places in the consistently funny and pleasantly original premise.

Three teens experience regular bullying by antagonizer Filkins (Alex Frost), an emancipated student who revels in terrorizing smaller kids. On their first day of high school, Wade (Nate Hartley as the Harry Potter-like scrawny guy), Ryan (Troy Gentile as the overweight boy who continually rants), and Emmit (David Dorfman as the kid who can’t avoid getting crammed into a locker) are unable to evade constant humiliation at the hands of their cruel nemesis. Fed up with the injustice, the trio decides to hire a bodyguard. In a riotous job-interview montage, they choose Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), an ex-black-ops and improvised weapons expert, who teaches them to stick up for themselves. During the process, Drillbit gets sidetracked by an aggressive teacher, Lisa (Leslie Mann), and the looming truth that he’s nothing more than a homeless bum who yearns for the good life in Canada.

The film derives much of its humor by forcing (or at least experimenting with) continuous, little laughs. Quick jokes follow rapid slapstick in the hope that if one gags doesn’t work, the next one will. Despite this hit-or-miss onslaught, it’s refreshing to see that not all of the skits rely on raunchy, sexual gimmicks, but rather the more relatable realm of physical comedy (including the bullying) and unexpectedly silly dialogue (such as the love chatter between Drillbit and Lisa).

However, this comedy falls into the same storyline quicksand that plagues many recent comedies: it allows the conflict to become too severe. No one doubts that the plot is ridiculous and that most of the ideas are exaggerated to the point of absurdity, but within this fantasy world of nerds and bullies, some things must remain faithful to the setup. Suitable vengeance, harmless romance, and the avoidance of life-threatening scenarios need to be approached with a concern for realism; when they’re not, the result is a conclusion as wildly farfetched as the samurai sword-wielding antagonist. Although the plot wasn’t intended to be an accurate portrayal of stereotypical high school life, the introduction insinuates an unavoidable grounding in reality.

“As long as you have a coffee cup in your hand, nobody says nothing,” states Drillbit to explain the ease with which he infiltrates the school as a substitute teacher. And as long as the humor remains appealingly gut-busting, no one will question the reasoning behind all the juvenile antics, even if they stretch the boundaries of believability. The film’s perceptive parodying of the popular kids and the pariahs in a high school setting lends to the satisfying concept of comedic revenge against persecution – which is one of the most universally inviting themes to watch.

– Mike Massie