There have been a million teenage sex romps made through the years, and there will be a million more. With such a vast pool (no pun intended, okay--maybe it was intended) to choose from, it becomes increasingly difficult for a film to distinguish itself from the enormous pack. "The Pool Boys" is a lightweight endeavor that may certainly appease those looking for something familiar and comfortable. I would never compare this film to "American Pie," but the DVD proudly proclaims the distinction "From the Creators of American Pie" as it wishes to cash in on that film's popularity. To my mind, "The Pool Boys" plays more like the slapstick cousin of "Risky Business" minus any element of realism. It's pure silly escapism--harmless enough if you like that sort of thing, but lacking any real cleverness or outrageousness. The movie tries for shocking craziness, but it carts out tired cliches, stock characters, and expected sight gags that feel cobbled together from a dozen different movies. The actors certainly try to sell it, it just doesn't seem particularly fresh.Brett Davern plays a recent graduate who, thorough a twist of circumstances, comes to Los Angeles to work a summer job for his successful cousin (Matthew Lillard). Of course, Lillard might have been overstating his success story and is really just a pool cleaner. The two start working together for a roster of wacky and eccentric clients, but a new business opportunity soon presents itself in the form of a squeaky clean escort (Rachelle Lefevre). Before you can say "prostitution comedy," the trio have holed up in a Hollywood mansion and solicited the locals for a wild sex party. Of course, if you've seen any number of these movies--nothing will come as a surprise to you. It isn't nearly as racy and titillating as it seems to believe it is. Oh, here's someone getting whipped, here's someone dressed like a dog, here's Tom Arnold unconvincingly (and quite loudly) playing himself. Of every joke or visual gag, I'd say that 90% have been utilized in other films of a similar nature. The movie isn't content to be just a ribald sex romp, though, it also wants to be sweetly romantic.
Look, I'm not criticizing the genre. If you want to be rude and provocative, go for it! Don't play it safe, be really outrageous! Lillard (and his ill-fitting speedo) may be the film's saving grace. He actually strikes an interesting balance between obnoxious and likable. He should set his sights higher, though, he's getting a little old to keep capitalizing on his man/child persona (heck, he plays a significant role in the Oscar contender The Descendants). Here's the deal. "The Pool Boys" is a silly movie that has no pretensions or aspirations other than to be a silly movie. That's fine and can certainly be entertaining. I just wish more of its ideas and humor hadn't been so familiar and so expected. For most of the movie, I felt like I was watching a sitcom rerun as opposed to something new and original. KGHarris, 12/11.
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