ROLE MODELS (15) Comedy. Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Banks, Ken Jeong, Alexandra Stamler. Director: David Wain.

THE latest foul-mouthed ‘bro-mantic’ comedy cast in the Judd Apatow mould (Superbad, Step Brothers, Pineapple Express) is a genuinely funny escapade despite its predictable fish-out-of-water scenario.

Role Models doesn’t deviate once from a well-trodden path of breast gags, wanton stupidity and hard fought redemption but David Wain’s film has an undeniable charm and some terrific one-liners.

The lively patter between lead stars Paul Rudd (who co-wrote the script) and Seann William Scott, as a pair of puerile 30-somethings forced to think like adults for once, wins us over.

Danny Donahue (Rudd) and his best buddy Wheeler (Scott) work for an energy drink company, touting a vile fizzy brew called Minotaur to bored children.

But after an unfortunate altercation at one school, the two men are sentenced to 150 hours’ community service and reluctantly head for the Sturdy Wings mentoring programme run by reformed addict, Gayle Sweeny (Lynch). She assigns Danny and Wheeler a troubled kid apiece – fantasy role-playing game obsessive Augie (Mintz-Plasse) and potty-mouthed 10-year-old Ronnie (Thompson) – and instructs the men to use their allotted time to get to know the boys and bring them out of their shells.

At first, Danny and Wheeler fail to connect with their charges.

Very gradually, the best friends realise that Augie and Ronnie need their help to cope with estrangement from selfish parents and feelings of abandonment, and they just might be the no-hopers to give these kids a second chance at happiness.

Role Models isn’t big, and it certainly isn’t clever, but it is a guilty pleasure with plenty to snigger at.