Role Models 2017

Danny and Wheeler are two longtime salesmen promoting the energy drink Minotaur, a campaign built around keeping kids away from drugs. While Wheeler thrives on the thrill of selling and storytelling, Danny grows increasingly tired of the gig, feeling trapped in a dead-end job that gnaws at his spirit. His growing cynicism strains his relationship with Beth, who ends things after an impulsive proposal that reveals how worn down he has become.

A botched presentation at a high school leads to trouble: their Minotaur truck is towed from a no-parking zone, and a dramatic attempt to free it ends in a collision with a statue and an encounter with a wary security guard. Arrests follow, but Beth, acting as their lawyer, arranges a deal with the judge: 150 hours of community service over 30 days instead of 30 days in jail.

Their service lands them at Sturdy Wings, a big brother–big sister program run by Gayle Sweeny, a recovering addict who hopes to guide troubled youths toward hope. Wheeler is paired with Ronnie Shields, a volatile, abrasive boy who has driven away past mentors, while Danny bonds with Augie Farks, a shy teenager obsessed with a medieval LARPG called LAIRE (Live Action Interactive Role-playing Explorers).

Initial struggles give way to gradual connection as the two mentors learn to navigate the quirks of their charges. Wheeler learns that Ronnie’s anger hides a fear of being abandoned by his father, while Danny begins to understand Augie’s fascination with the fantasy world. Wheeler even shares his love for the band Kiss and helps Ronnie realize how to manage his obsession with bodies, a moment that deepens their trust. Danny, meanwhile, discovers that his own reluctance to engage with Augie mirrors his resistance to life beyond the program, and he starts to understand Augie’s dedication to LAIRE as more than a game.

As their bond strengthens, Danny joins Augie’s LAIRE faction and tries to repair the relationship with Beth, who makes clear they will remain apart. The two mentors’ efforts run into a wall when Augie, attempting to make a splash, sneaks up on Argotron, the king of LAIRE. The king lies about killing Augie, prompting Danny to intervene and defend Augie—an act that results in them being banned from LAIRE for good. A tense dinner with Augie’s mother and her boyfriend ends with Danny lashing out, remarking, “I’d be psyched if he was my kid,” a line that exposes the pain beneath the jokes and pushes the family further apart.

Trouble escalates at home as Ronnie’s parents complain about the lack of stable mentors, and Gayle ultimately ejects Danny and Wheeler from Sturdy Wings. The threat of jail looms again, even as Beth agrees to defend them, warning of a likely prison sentence if they cannot win their case.

Freedom comes in a surprising form: Wheeler secures a chance to spend more time with Ronnie after his release, and Danny persuades Argotron to let Augie participate in a climactic battle royale. The king’s true intent, however, is revealed when he quietly warns the other LAIRE factions that Augie’s presence would destabilize the game. Undeterred, Danny and Wheeler create a new LAIRE country with Ronnie and Augie, arriving in Kiss-themed Minotaur gear and naming their nation “Kiss-My-Anthia.”

Augie defeats Argotron in battle, but a hidden player, who goes by Esplen, intervenes and defeats Augie, crowning Esplen as queen and designating Augie as her king-consort. The stakes shift as Augie’s parents begin to show him more support, and the unconventional alliance between Danny and Augie’s circle gains a fragile legitimacy.

In the end, Gayle steps in, recognizing the care and resilience the two men showed for the children in their lives. The judge’s concerns are softened, and the film closes on a hopeful note: Danny serenades Beth with a rendition of Kiss’s “Beth,” a gesture that marks reconciliation and a renewed possibility for their future together, buoyed by the kids’ progress and the renewed bond between the families.

Throughout, the story threads together themes of abandonment and belonging, the tension between adult cynicism and childlike imagination, and the transformative power of choosing the well-being of others over personal comfort. The tone remains measured and compassionate, letting small moments—shared games, whispered conversations, and heartfelt songs—carry the emotional weight.