Mr Woodcock (2007)

"Your mom's got a little bit of Woodcock in her!"

This movie was much funner than I thought it would be. "Mr. Woodcock" stars Billy Bob Thornton as a sadistic gym teacher who's engaged to a woman named Beverly (Susan Sarandon). As it so happens, Beverly is the mother of John (Seann William Scott), one of Mr. Woodcock's former students who's never quite recovered from his traumatic P.E. experiences. When John returns to his Nebraska hometown to visit his mother, he is horrified to discover that Mr. Woodcock is going to be his stepfather. Mr. Woodcock isn't a big fan of John's, either, and while he tries to be nice to the kid in front of his mother, he has no problem verbally abusing (and literally beating the crap out of) John whenever Beverly's not around.

There isn't much more to the plot than what I've already described, and yes, this movie is also very predictable. However, it also contains some brilliant stupid humor. Thornton as perfect as the Gym Teacher from Hell, and he has great on-screen chemistry with both Scott and Sarandon. If you're looking for a few cheap laughs, this is definitely the film for you. August 4, 2008

worth watching

Not quite a perfect 5 star movie, because Billy Bob Thorton just wasn't as funny as he could have been. I was actually laughing quite hard at certain parts, such as the entire town thinking Billy Bob was some kind of perfect man, but the son of the mother Billy Bob was dating totally disagreed. This led to a funny segment afterwards.

In fact, the storyline for the most part was about Billy Bob dating a mother, and the son of the mother constantly getting into fights with Billy Bob's character. This was because Billy Bob's character was a gym teacher that had the son as a student many years before, and as a gym teacher, he used to torment the heck out of the kids.

Another memorable part was when the son decided he finally had enough of being treated like garbage by Billy's character, and challenged him to a wrestling match. In the end, the best part of the movie was obviously the little amount of harsh treatment from Billy Bob we got to see.

Billy Bob Thorton wasn't quite as ignorant/funny in this film as he was in that Santa Claus movie he did a few years back, but he was still pretty good here. And this movie is nothing like that rocket building movie he did, which was a serious film. A good way to pass the time. August 3, 2008

Pretty dag gone funny

This is a pretty decent flick, most of the funny parts were on the previews but it is a great story, and presented very well. July 10, 2008

Do a lap, you'll feel better

This movie had potential to be funny. I've always been a fan of Billy Bob, and I find that he plays a scumbag best. Here he wasn't as scummy as he could have been, because he is, after all, a teacher. He is a tough teacher, the relentless and perhaps the most humiliating of experiences - gym class. Everyone no matter how much of a weakling or muscle stud you may have been then or now, gym class was truly tramatic. Putting on those ugly outfits, not being able to do chin ups, being in front of the whole class to see you preform, etc. And the gym teacher is there to direct you in all your failures and tell you what a weakling you are. *shudder*

What could have been a great movie showcasing Billy Bob as a somewhat lovable scumbag flip flops into a sort of odd family comedy. Seann William Scott, famous from the American Pie movies as the equally lovable scumbag, Stiffler, has returned to his Nebraska home town to accept a corn cob award for his work as an inspirational writer. He has overcome all his hang ups and become a better person because of the power of positive thought. When he comes home to visit his mom, Susan Sarandon, he finds that his mom is not just dating but plans to marry Mr. Woodcock. In a horrible feeling of anger and fear, he is committed to stopping the wedding and breaking them up. What could have been some hilarious screwball comedy antics or plot falls apart into silly plot twists and turns, things that don't really apply to the story (the romance between Scott and the hometown girl), and some revelations by mom to her adult child that were long overdue.

Not too much is funny about this movie, but it had potential. July 8, 2008

A Deflated Basketball

Get ready for a deflated basketball.

Nothing can bring any bounce to the script in this "comedy," since the cast lacks the energy to try and make things work. But even they may have known what the final score was going to be without needing to play the game.

Starring Billy Bob Thornton, as the gym teacher who is every kid's nightmare, the plot has a twist that could have worked. The widowed mother (Susan Sarandon) is engaged to soon be married to the gym teacher, while her son, a former tormented student (Seann William Scott), who is a best-selling author of self-help books, does everything in his power to derail the couple.

But with oftentimes disturbing bits and an ending that is far from a slam-dunk, this romp through school days angst is an absolute air ball.



July 8, 2008

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