| Overall Grade: |
D+ |
|
| Story: |
N/A |
|
|
| Acting: |
N/A |
|
|
| Direction: |
N/A |
|
|
| Visuals: |
N/A |
|
|
Bad script handcuffs talent.
by schuels (movies profile)
Jan 30, 2008
14
of
18 people found this review helpful
Bad Santa. Stiffler. Earl's brother Randy. Janet from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The actors who portrayed these characters know how to pull off comedy. They've done it. They're good.
However, the script for Mr. Woodcock, which is abysmal, severely limits the potential for these talented comedians. Admittedly, I saw an early pre-screening a year ago after most of the principal photography had been completed, but I don't see how that terrible, flawed script could be salvaged to sufficiently explain what is going on.
Yes, we get the traumatized child flashback thing. Yes, we get the terrible twist of the protagonist's mother dating the traumatizing gym teacher from his childhood. Blah blah blah, plan to break them up, etc. Formulaic, and usually effective in some decent laughs and maybe a heartwarming resolution. Not so here.
Why the hell are all the females in this movie so hot for Woodcock? In every scene, EVERY SINGLE SCENE OF THE MOVIE THAT HE IS IN, Billy Bob does a great job of being a complete jerk with no redeeming qualities. Are all the chicks in the movie damaged goods? Is that why they're turned on by the older, abusive Woodcock? There is never any explanation as to why women like him so much. Innuendo of sexual prowess abounds, but does not convince the viewer that Woodcock is a redeemable character in any way. Hence, the major flaw of the movie: why would anybody tolerate this guy for more than 5 minutes?
Billy, Susan, Seann, and Ethan, among other recognizables, do what they can with the words. Billy deadpans like a pro, as he should. Susan is a bit forgetable, but serviceable as Mom. Seann and Ethan don't really mesh as the unlikely partners, but do pull off some decent giggles.
In conclusion, the crew can't save the sinking ship. Add in some unresolved story lines, mediocre sight gags, and half-hearted attempts at jokes, and you get a pretty crappy movie. Wait for DVD if you have to see it. But maybe you should be drunk. |
My Public Profile 
