Fans of Judd Apatow will be surprised with Drillbit Taylor, as it’s definitely not the same brand of raunchy humor manifested in Knocked Up and Superbad that we’ve all grown to love. Oh, no.

Could this be? A Judd Apatow-produced, Seth Rogen-written, family movie?

A group of teens is looking forward to shedding their nerdy status in high school, but their dreams of being cool are crushed when school bully, Filkins (Alex Frost), decides to make their lives a living hell. Fearful of their lives but low on funds, they seek protection from Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), a questionable bodyguard who’s actually a homeless man spending most of his time panhandling in Santa Monica.

Sure, some jokes will make you chuckle, and of course, the kids steal the show. David Dorfman as the littlest nerd Emmit is surprisingly hilarious – a stark contrast to the creepy little kid he brilliantly played in The Ring.

However, many of the jokes fall flat. Some of the bullying scenes are disturbing too, making it awkward to watch.

It’s as if they couldn’t decide whether to make them funny or sad. Are we supposed to laugh? I felt more like crying for the poor kids.

Drillbit Taylor is a semi-funny film with a heartwarming ending.

Grade: C+

Drillbit Taylor is currently in theaters.