Stealing Harvard MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: -2 1/2

Its hard to imagine buddies John and Duff (Jason Lee and Tom Green) having survived to adulthood, considering their brainless schemes to raise $30,000. John and Elaine (Leslie Mann), his live-in girlfriend, have finally saved $30,000 to buy a house, but his sister reminds John that he promised to pay for her daughter to attend Harvard. Duff gives new meaning to the term mastermind when he suggests that John break into a wealthy widowers home. When that plan backfires, the two participate in a botched liquor store robbery and, finally, Elaine helps them break into her fathers medical equipment showroom. This slapstick-style humor may attract 13-year-old boys and fans of standup comedian Green. But for most potential viewers, the characters are so dumb STEALING HARVARD will insult their intelligence.

In a case of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, audiences are supposed to admire John for honoring his promise to niece Noreen (Tammy Blanchard), who lives in a trailer park with her mother, Patty (Megan Mullally). Patty entertains men, sometimes three at a time, although sex is implied only. John swears to Elaines father (Dennis Farina) that he and Elaine have never had sex in the seven years they have lived together. But they are shown in bed at least three times with sexual motion beneath the covers. Elaine even becomes aroused during the robbery of her fathers business and throws John on the desk for an encounter before they are interrupted. And her fathers dog grabs Duffs crotch and wont let him go. In the first robbery attempt, John is caught by the lonely widower occupant and forced at gunpoint to put on a blond wig and nightgown, then snuggle in bed with the middle-aged man. This scenario is repeated three times. On top of the crude sexual comedy and slapstick violence, add 10 obscenities and 9 strong profanities to the dialogue and discerning moviegoers will agree, STEALING HARVARD should be rated R and spurned at the box office.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232