In trying to recapture some of that former school magic, three old college buddies decide to start their own off-campus fraternity.

Story

The premise to Old School sounds a bit cringe-worthy when you first hear it--visions of sexist frat house humor, wild parties, buxom babes and beer bongs dance through your head. OK, maybe there's a little of that going on in Old School, but the heart of the film is surprisingly more centered than your average balls-out comedy. A trio of twentysomething…

Back in February, this thirtysomething Animal House did better at the box office than it really deserved. The comic idea was far superior to its execution. Still, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson and especially Will Ferrell do wonders with their underwritten roles as former college buds -- two now married -- who use a rental house near campus to revert to their frat-boy days, including brewskis, topless wrestling contests and streaking (another indecent-exposure op for Ferrell -- what's with this…

Need a Will Ferrell fix? I do. The wicked clown who skewered Dubya, among other targets, left SNL last year after seven seasons and two Emmy nominations to go Hollywood. Ferrell's movies are mostly throwaways -- though I'll defend Zoolander and A Night at the Roxbury -- but he is hilarious in all of them, even -- gulp! -- The Ladies Man. You take Ferrell where you can get him.

Which brings us to Old School, a crassly eager-to-please mix of Animal House and Jackass in which Ferrell, Vince Vaughn…