Does community service seem like a softer option than a prison sentence? Not to Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Sean William Scott) when they are given the task of mentoring two boys at each end of the personality spectrum in this hilarious, feel-good comedy.

Danny, an L.A. misanthrope whose life is going down the drain, hates his job driving a monster truck from school to school to sell Minotaur energy drinks and lives for his girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks) - who is about to dump him. On the other hand, his sex-crazed partner in-crime Wheeler loves his job dressing up as the hairy Minotaur monster mascot and lives for sex, drugs and the rock band KISS.

Danny doesn't take the break up well and shows his anger by driving the Minotaur-mobile up a statue of a horse. The pair end up with a prison sentence for the stunt, which Danny's lawyer (and now ex-girlfriend) manages to get reduced to 150 hours of community service.

Enlisted in 'Sturdy Wings', a 'Big Brother' mentoring programme run by a psychotic ex-coke addict Gayle Sweeny (Jane Lynch), Wheeler is assigned to Ronnie (Bobb'e J Thompson), a 10-year old black kid who immediately accuses Wheeler of fondling his balls. Danny gets Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, McLovin' from Superbad), a nerd obsessed with playing LAIRE, a medieval role-playing game, and speaking in Shakespearian speech patterns.

At first, Danny and Wheeler think a prison sentence seems more appealing than being stuck with their 'littles', but they eventually warm to them and we see a more fulfilled side to their characters through their relationship with the boys.

Director David Wain, beloved by cultists for Wet Hot American Summer and TV's The State, hits the mainstream with Role Models. Rudd delivers put-downs like a toxic avenger while Scott uses his irresistible sweetness to make Wheeler the most likeable of sleazebags.

Full of strong performances, an all-star cast, filthy-smart one-liners and an emotional, feel-good ending, Role Models deliver the perfect combination of comedy and serious life messages.

Definitely a key player in the Emotionally Stunted Men Grow A Heart sub-genre, Role Models chases away those winter blues and sets the standard high as 2009's laugh-out-loud comedy to beat.

Pic Credit: Universal Everett/ Rex Features