Mr. Woodcock
by Craig Gillespie
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan SarandonDirector: Craig Gillespie
Brand: NLV
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
Published: 2008-01-01
DVD Release Date: 2008-01-15
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: New Line Home Video
Movie Reviews of Mr. Woodcock
Movie Review: The Gym Teacher You'll Love to Hate
Summary: 5 Stars
I still remember the meanest teacher I've ever had back in High School. That short guy always punished the students for little or no reason at all and unfortunately we just had to deal with it (doing pushups with your knuckles is not fun at all). I'm sure that most of us can relate to these unpleasant--and sometimes even painful--memories from childhood. Mr. Woodcock is a movie about that teacher that you loved to hate. Not only made poor John miserable as a boy, but he is coming back to date his mom. This is without a doubt, one of the funniest films of the year (unfortunately not many critics believe this statement). It follows the Meet the Parents formula with situational jokes and great performances by Billy Bob Thornton and Seann William Scott who together are dynamite and perfectly suitable for their roles.
Brief Intro Story:
John Farley (Seann William Scott) is a junior high kid who is constantly suffering humiliation by his gym teacher Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). Little John is not the only victim here, but all of the kids from his class suffer by the same demeaning punishment.
Thirteen years has passed and now Farley is a successful writer who has a best selling book called "Letting Go, How to get past your past"--inspired by his childhood memories. As he is traveling around the country promoting his book with his agent Maggie Hoffman (Amy Poehler), he finds out that he just got an award from his hometown. It will be a great opportunity to say hello to his dear mother Beverly (Susan Sarandon) who lives alone--unfortunately John lost his father years ago.
As he gets home to say hello to his mom, he finds found that she is dating no other than his number one nemesis Mr. Woodcock. There is bad blood almost instantly between them and John will do anything to separate them.
Review:
Mr. Woodcock entertains mostly because of the hostility and obsession--and many assumptions--that John has towards his old gym teacher. He remembers him with anger and in a way--even though he is a young adult now--he still sees him through the eyes of a bitter child. He cannot stand the fact that he is dating his mom and he is willing to give up his career as a writer in order to stop this relationship. John also notices that his adversary is a great figure in his community. Why is that so? But he makes a mistake by not understanding Woodcock's persona with more depth. Why is he like that with the students? Is he doing it to discipline his students so they can become better people? He is surprised that no one can see his dark side but him--his mom is totally in love with the guy. Mr. Woodcock is full of surprises and John is going to find out the hard way.
Besides the situational jokes (the Tyra Banks Show and the last reunion scene are my favorites), animosity between teacher and student and great chemistry between both foes, the film works because director Craig Gillespie injects a bit of drama and mutual understanding, especially towards the end of the film. I guarantee the ending will please the audience.
The Verdict:
despised by many critics but praised but few (I'm one of those few). Mr. Woodcock is an entertaining film that deals with those evil teachers we remember from our childhood days, but we never get to know them that well. In a way Mr. Woodcock "helped" John to become a successful writer. Of course it is debatable, but what's not debatable is the interesting story, great amount of jokes, and chemistry between Seann William Scott and Billy Bob Thornton who are perfect doing these kinds of comedies.
Summary of Mr. Woodcock
Synopsis:Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: PG13
Street Date: 01/15/08
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
Rhetorical question: What?s the only thing that can keep a potentially bad movie?s head above water? Good actors, or course. Sure, the Dodgeball-esque scenes of Billy Bob Thornton viciously pegging second-graders with a basketball are chuckle-inducing (It appeals to the America?s Funniest Home Videos lover in all of us), but the movie didn?t quite live up to the promising plot. John Farley (Seann William Scott) plays a bestselling self-help author who was once a portly underachiever often bullied and terrorized by his militant (and potentially lawsuit-causing) gym teacher, Mr. Woodcock (Thornton). When he?s invited to receive his Nebraska hometown?s most coveted award, the corn cob key, he decides to pay his mother (Susan Sarandon) a visit. With horror, he discovers that she?s planning on getting married to the sinister Mr. Woodcock. And, of course, the rest of the movie shows John?s unraveling as he tries with all his might (and "corny" predictability) to stop that from happening. The movie provides some good laughs, but it?s definitely on the B-list for the likes of these hilarious starring actors. --Jordan Thompson
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