Mr. Woodcock is a unique film. I don't mean that because of it's plot because this is nothing new in fact Billy Bob Thorton did something like this with School For Scoundrels, and I don't mean the comedy because honestly it just wasn't that funny and as per usual for most comedies the stuff that may have been funny is used up in the trailers, and the dialog and the story isn't that great and yet it's definitely worth seeing, how is that possible? Well there are two reasons and it's the main stars of the film who manage to take a weak and relatively shoddy script and actually really make it worth while and fun and their chemistry is just downright brilliant period. There is very little about this film that is worth getting excited over and I knew this as I was sitting there and yet I kept thinking...this is actually pretty good, kind of fun, I'd watch it again and the only reason is for them. The rest of the cast was good too, no one really tripped up in making the film but no one else is hardly in it. Once again Hollywood has fallen into the inexperience trap with director Craig Gillespie who is very new and this is only his second film. And then you have two virtually brand spanking new screen writers who have written nothing previously for the big screen. This film could have been three times better had they had experience behind the camera and not just in front of it.
Other than his obvious role on the American Pie films as the hopelessly dirty Stifler, Seann William Scott has not really impressed me in anything else. I just always assumed he would always doing nothing else but Stifler and yet this role of his really surprised me. He is almost the straight man as clean cut, celebrity author John Farley. Scott spends most of the film having this break down and talking to himself and plotting against Woodcock and it's just fun to watch. He also has some outrageous physical comedy which is a good additive too. Billy Bob Thornton has had some great roles, and some good films but I've still never been a huge fan but his performance as Jasper Woodcock is just awesome. Although, as I stated earlier, it's not a far cry from the role he played in School For Scoundrels when it was Jon Heder he was torturing but Woodcock is even worse. He is the ultimate provocateur, and together with Scott they are an awesome team against each other. It's just pure dumb luck on their part that the two of them literally save this film from obscurity. Also Susan Sarandon looking lovely as always plays Scott's Mom and Woodcock's fiancé much to Farley's dismay. Sarandon doesn't really pull out the stops for this performance, she is just kind of there but an actor of her caliber just being there...helps. Amy Poehler is actually the real laugh getter as John's egotistical, maniacal and alcoholic book agent. She doesn't have a big role either but she does it well. Ethan Suplee has definitely had better and more significant roles but he plays John's sidekick and former High School class mate. His role is toned down from the typical sidekick role to make way for both Scott and Thorton so he kind of gets lost as a pointless character.
I think the most important thing for a truly successful comedy is to have some really memorable moments and Mr. Woodcock tries, and tries hard but I don't know if it's successful although I'm thinking to myself that "it's a rhetorical question Farley" could become a new expression. The single only reason to see the film is the battle of both wits and physicality between Woodcock and Farley. I don't think there is very many laugh out loud moments in a comedy that you'd think would be of that type. It's definitely a much more subtle comedy styling and it comes across as cute and maybe a little dull around the edges but I've seen worse. 7/10
Other than his obvious role on the American Pie films as the hopelessly dirty Stifler, Seann William Scott has not really impressed me in anything else. I just always assumed he would always doing nothing else but Stifler and yet this role of his really surprised me. He is almost the straight man as clean cut, celebrity author John Farley. Scott spends most of the film having this break down and talking to himself and plotting against Woodcock and it's just fun to watch. He also has some outrageous physical comedy which is a good additive too. Billy Bob Thornton has had some great roles, and some good films but I've still never been a huge fan but his performance as Jasper Woodcock is just awesome. Although, as I stated earlier, it's not a far cry from the role he played in School For Scoundrels when it was Jon Heder he was torturing but Woodcock is even worse. He is the ultimate provocateur, and together with Scott they are an awesome team against each other. It's just pure dumb luck on their part that the two of them literally save this film from obscurity. Also Susan Sarandon looking lovely as always plays Scott's Mom and Woodcock's fiancé much to Farley's dismay. Sarandon doesn't really pull out the stops for this performance, she is just kind of there but an actor of her caliber just being there...helps. Amy Poehler is actually the real laugh getter as John's egotistical, maniacal and alcoholic book agent. She doesn't have a big role either but she does it well. Ethan Suplee has definitely had better and more significant roles but he plays John's sidekick and former High School class mate. His role is toned down from the typical sidekick role to make way for both Scott and Thorton so he kind of gets lost as a pointless character.
I think the most important thing for a truly successful comedy is to have some really memorable moments and Mr. Woodcock tries, and tries hard but I don't know if it's successful although I'm thinking to myself that "it's a rhetorical question Farley" could become a new expression. The single only reason to see the film is the battle of both wits and physicality between Woodcock and Farley. I don't think there is very many laugh out loud moments in a comedy that you'd think would be of that type. It's definitely a much more subtle comedy styling and it comes across as cute and maybe a little dull around the edges but I've seen worse. 7/10