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There's a real funny scene in "Mr. Woodcock" and it comes right at the beginning of the film that foolishly makes the viewer think this is going to be something worth watching. There's also a trio of fine performances, but unfortunately two of them come from actresses that don't get enough screen time. And buried in here is a the possibility of a real comedy just waiting to be made.
"Mr. Woodcock" stars Billy Bob Thornton playing essentially the same character he played in "Bad Santa," "Bad News Bears" and "School for Scoundrels"--the scourge of the helpless, the very young and the very old, the affirmed. This time he's a high school physical education teacher of the title and his persona is established in that funny scene I referred to above when he hurls basketballs at unsuspecting kids, tells another to "Take a lap and lose the asthma" and screams at a third "You're a disgrace to fat, gelatinous little kids the world over."
But then the movie flashes forward 13 years and that fat, gelatinous little kid has become a leaner John Farley (Seann William Scott) and the author of a popular self-help book about letting go of your past, something Farley has definitely failed to do.
His Nebraska hometown wants to honor Farley's success so he returns home only to discover that his mother (Susan Sarandon) is not only dating Woodcock, but is probably going to marry him. Farley's high school tormentor is about to become his stepfather and the rest of the movie details Farley's attempts to make sure that doesn't happen.
That might have worked if the movie had the courage of its own convictions, but, in typical Hollywood fashion, the film sells out Woodcock's character at the end.
I find it amazing that in a film featuring Ms. Sarandon, two other actresses are the real standouts. The first is Amy Poehler as Farley's alcoholic book-tour publicist, Maggie Hoffman. When she tells Farley at one point "I'm going to give you the same advice I gave Nelson Mandela: Don't be a pussy," I suddenly wished I was seeing a movie about Maggie Hoffman.
The second performance worth highlighting is that of Melissa Leo as Woodcock's sex-craved ex-wife, Sally Jansen. Following her brief scene, I wished I was watching a movie about Maggie escorting Sally on tour promoting her "recovery" book. That has the possibilities of being one funny film.
The third performance worth mentioning is Thornton's, who, by now, has this character down pat, but it's still somewhat amusing when he trots it out. This film definitely would have worked much better if it had been seen from his character's point of view and not Farley's.
Grade: D-
"Mr. Woodcock" stars Billy Bob Thornton playing essentially the same character he played in "Bad Santa," "Bad News Bears" and "School for Scoundrels"--the scourge of the helpless, the very young and the very old, the affirmed. This time he's a high school physical education teacher of the title and his persona is established in that funny scene I referred to above when he hurls basketballs at unsuspecting kids, tells another to "Take a lap and lose the asthma" and screams at a third "You're a disgrace to fat, gelatinous little kids the world over."
But then the movie flashes forward 13 years and that fat, gelatinous little kid has become a leaner John Farley (Seann William Scott) and the author of a popular self-help book about letting go of your past, something Farley has definitely failed to do.
His Nebraska hometown wants to honor Farley's success so he returns home only to discover that his mother (Susan Sarandon) is not only dating Woodcock, but is probably going to marry him. Farley's high school tormentor is about to become his stepfather and the rest of the movie details Farley's attempts to make sure that doesn't happen.
That might have worked if the movie had the courage of its own convictions, but, in typical Hollywood fashion, the film sells out Woodcock's character at the end.
I find it amazing that in a film featuring Ms. Sarandon, two other actresses are the real standouts. The first is Amy Poehler as Farley's alcoholic book-tour publicist, Maggie Hoffman. When she tells Farley at one point "I'm going to give you the same advice I gave Nelson Mandela: Don't be a pussy," I suddenly wished I was seeing a movie about Maggie Hoffman.
The second performance worth highlighting is that of Melissa Leo as Woodcock's sex-craved ex-wife, Sally Jansen. Following her brief scene, I wished I was watching a movie about Maggie escorting Sally on tour promoting her "recovery" book. That has the possibilities of being one funny film.
The third performance worth mentioning is Thornton's, who, by now, has this character down pat, but it's still somewhat amusing when he trots it out. This film definitely would have worked much better if it had been seen from his character's point of view and not Farley's.
Grade: D-
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