Remember when movies used to be funny and not some cheap imitation of past comedies?
When was the last time a movie actually made you laugh all the way to the end? Probably a long time.
“Mr. Woodcock” is not one to break the streak of recent poor comedies.
John Farley (Seann William Scott) is a 26-year-old author of a self-help book about letting go of your past and becoming a better person. He has received national recognition for his book, and his hometown in Nebraska has given him the “Corn Cob Key to the City.”
Farley decides to return home against the better judgment of his publicist, Maggie (Amy Poehler). He wants to surprise his mother in addition to accepting the prestigious award. His mother, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), was the Corn Cob Queen of 1970.
Farley returns to a nasty surprise when he discovers his mother has begun dating the terrible Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton), who was Farley’s cruel gym coach in junior high.
Mr. Woodcock ruined the lives of many of his students throughout the years. Farley claims that he wrote his book because of what Mr. Woodcock had done to him as a child.
When Mr. Woodcock asks for Beverly’s hand in marriage, Farley decides he must take it upon himself to ruin their relationship.
Farley abandons his own advice to let go and tries to correct mistakes and get revenge on the one who tortured him as a kid. Woodcock and Farley must come together and accept their differences and learn to be a family.
Wow, thank God that’s over. Aside from the most generic plot in the past month, “Mr. Woodcock” does nothing to set itself apart from other terrible Scott movies, such as “Dude, Where’s My Car.” Granted, comedies hardly focus any attention on plots and usually are made to generate laughs, but “Mr. Woodcock” does neither.
Apart from the typical Thornton candor and rudeness, the movie’s comedic value is rather worthless. Thornton’s harsh tongue is definitely in this movie, and if you are a fan of destroying and belittling people’s self esteem, then there are moments of laughter.
But the laughs are few and far between. It seems that the movie sticks to its comedic roots for about the first 20 minutes, but from then on out, it is poor joke after poor joke and more lame Poehler, who still garners little to no laughter.
The movie tries to redeem itself with a message, but it is poorly underdeveloped and, frankly, not resolved.
“Mr. Woodcock” falls flat on its face.
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