Mr. Woodcock (2007) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2007
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Seann William Scott, Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Ethan Suplee
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 14 September 2007
Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes

The Movie Review

Mr. Woodcock film still


MR. WOODCOCK
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As a kid, all of us used to have our own nemesis (except if you were the big bully). Mr. Woodcock brings up the theme, about childhood's nemesis. Not in a form of a bully that we hate, but in a form of the gym coach. Now that's the form of nemesis a lot more daunting than a bully. How could you ever defeat your evil Gym teacher? John Farley (Seann William Scott) decides to just let it go and forgives him.

This is the story of John Farley who's growing up in a world of pain and humiliation inflicted by his Gym Teacher Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). Several years later Farley's life has improved greatly and he is living now a successful book author and widely known for his "Forgetting the Past" motto. John Farley is invited by his hometown community to be awarded the honorary award of the town "The Corn Cup Key". John gladly returns to his hometown Nebraska and to his utmost horror only to finds that his Mom Beverly (Susan Sarandon) is engaged to Mr. Woodcock. John Farley is not going to let his childhood terror makes a comeback, and will do everything it takes to brake the engagement.

Mr. Woodcock is not a bad comedy movie, it does have its moments of laughter but it doesn't give you the feel-good emotion. You will feel the need to smack over and over Mr Woodcock, thanks to the nagging performance of Thornton which probably from the screenplay point of view, he is a good actor. Susan Sarandon's character, Beverly, is extremely foolish for being totally oblivious for what is happenning around her, it's impossible for an adult to think the way she thinks.

Okay, comedy is often set aside rationality, but this film overuses it, besides the characters are not likable, they are irksome and frustrating. The film is trying hard to be funny, but ends up tooo painful for mature-minded adults, too boring for teenagers, and too complicated for children. Unbelievably unbelievable.

If you have a grown-up way of thinking and know how to deal with things logically, gotta tell you, Mr. Woodcock is probably not for you.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com