This isn't exactly brainy comedy, but at least the script touches lightly on some real issues (growing up, friendship, relationships) as it races to the next low-brow set-piece. Fortunately, there is a level of genuine humour here that keeps us laughing between the stupid stuff. It also helps that the cast is very watchable, with distinct characters that don't rely on stereotypes: Wilson is the nice guy who goes along with whatever happens; Ferrell is the good-time boy who embarrassingly takes everything way too far; and Vaughn is the fast-talker who always has a plan and an answer for every crisis. The romantic storylines as well as the big conflict with Piven's power-mad geek are all rather weak, but there's plenty of other stuff to get us chuckling, as well as several relatively witty cameos. Director-cowriter Phillips (Road Trip) never quite gets the Big Laugh, but the film's still much better than it has any right to be.