FERRELL'S BIG FRAT GREEK COMEDY.

Byline: - Evan Henerson

His latest film isn't necessarily the ``art imitating life'' experience that Will Ferrell had in mind.

But the former ``Saturday Night Live'' mainstay admits that, back during his days at USC, he was a member of a fraternity that ``wasn't really good at anything.''

``The only thing we could get focused on was constructing and throwing a really good party,'' says Ferrell, who stars in the fraternity-themed comedy ``Old School.''

``And yet it was a very eclectic group of guys. For much of my four years in college, I found that to really be a stage for me comedically.''

In ``Old School,'' director Todd Phillips' follow-up to the teen comedy ``Road Trip,'' Ferrell plays one of a trio of 30-something chums who fall squarely into the ``arrested development'' category. Looking to capture their college glory, the characters played by Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn set up a fraternity house across the street from a university.

Can you say, ``PAAAAAAARTY!!''

``Not that this is high art by any means,'' says Ferrell. ``It's a little more adult than 'Road Trip' and yet not adult at all. So it's a little bit of a different flavor.''

Ferrell's character, Frank, a serious partier in days of yore, takes to the new frat-house life like a frosh to a keg. In one memorable party scene, Frank bursts onto the stage - interrupting a number by Snoop Dogg - and tries to get everyone to follow him on a communal streak across campus.

``Yes, people get to see me naked, at least part of me,'' says Ferrell. ``Hopefully that will bring 'em in by the droves.''

The experience made Ferrell harken back to his USC days where, Ferrell acknowledges, ``I was known to run nude on occasion.''

``I was always up to no good,'' he says, ``So it's come full circle.''

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(color) OPENS: Feb. 21