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Movies / On DVD / Mr. Woodcock
Mr. Woodcock

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Mr. Woodcock (2007)

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Reviews Counted:106

Fresh:14

Rotten:92

Average Rating:4/10

Consensus: Underutilizing a talented cast, Mr. Woodcock lacks the comic energy and timing to make the most of its intriguing premise.

Rated: 12A

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:28-09-2007

Synopsis: For students at Forest Meadow Middle School, P.E. class is not playtime, but rather an exercise in mental and physical humiliation administered by the tough as gristle Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob... For students at Forest Meadow Middle School, P.E. class is not playtime, but rather an exercise in mental and physical humiliation administered by the tough as gristle Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). Run more like a military boot camp than a gym class, Woodcock’s physical education class takes on a new meaning where no child’s flaws or weaknesses are safe from the torture and embarrassment that follow the sound of the despised teacher’s whistle. For John Farley (Seann William Scott), author of the national bestseller Letting Go: Getting Past Your Past, the painful memories of being in Mr. Woodcock’s class have since been replaced by the self confidence gained from becoming a successful writer and motivational speaker. When a last minute cancellation on his book tour gives him an unexpected day off, John returns home to surprise his mother, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), with the news that he will be awarded the small town’s prestigious “Corn Cob Key” during its annual Cornival Festival. John’s jubilation quickly turns to angst when he discovers his mother has fallen in love with Mr. Woodcock. Forced to spend time with his old nemesis, John must endure the familiar sting of his former teacher’s sharp tongue and intimidation tactics all over again. Ignoring the pleas of his hard-nosed book publicist Maggie (Amy Poehler) to get back on tour, John extends his visit in an effort to disrupt the relationship between his mother and Woodcock, but with each passing day he finds himself regressing deeper into the insecurities and awkwardness that plagued his youth. Mortified and panic-stricken by the inevitability of his mother marrying the one man he truly despises, John enlists the help of his old school mate, Jay Nedderman (Ethan Suplee), in a last-ditch attempt to take down Mr. Woodcock. The result is a series of hilarious confrontations that lead John to discover that one’s past is often hard to escape. Mr. Woodcock is a New Line Cinema presentation of a Landscape Entertainment production, directed by Craig Gillespie from an original screenplay written by Michael Carnes & Josh Gilbert. The film is produced by Bob Cooper and David Dobkin. The executive producers are Diana Pokorny, Toby Emmerich, Kent Alterman and Karen Lunder. The co-executive producers are Michele Weiss and Keith Goldberg. The co-producer is Brian Inerfeld. The creative behind-the-scenes team includes Director of Photography Tami Reiker, ASC, Production Designer Alison Sadler, Editors Alan Baumgarten, A.C.E. and Kevin Tent, A.C.E., Costume Designer Wendy Chuck and Composer Theodore Shapiro. The talented cast features Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott and Susan Sarandon, as well as Ethan Suplee, Melissa Sagemiller, Kurt Fuller, Melissa Leo, Bill Macy, Brent Briscoe and M.C. Gainey, with Amy Poehler. New Line Cinema will release Mr. Woodcock (rated PG-13 by the M.P.A.A. for “crude and sexual content, thematic material, language and a mild drug reference”) in theaters nationwide on September 14th, 2007. --©: New Line Cinema [More]

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Ethan Suplee

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Ethan Suplee, Amy Poehler

Director: Craig Gillespie

Director: Craig Gillespie
Screenwriter: Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert
Producer: Bob Cooper, David Dobkin
Composer: Theodore Shapiro
Studio: New Line Cinema

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Reviews for Mr. Woodcock

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
09/22/07
Screen International

As usual, Billy Bob is very watchable in the lead. But the rest of the film is only so-so.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
09/29/07
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
This is London

Mr Woodcock is never less than watchable, thanks to strong performances and some amusing dialogue, but it's badly let down by a disappointingly weak plot.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
09/29/07
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Mr Woodcock offers one or two glorious moments of slapstick comedy, separated by a tumbleweed-strewn tundra of tedium.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
09/28/07
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Disappointing.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
09/28/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The playful dialog provides the best laughter, while the big set pieces feel strangely muted

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
09/20/07
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Thornton does his best with a crass script and a cop-out finale.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
09/28/07
Sukhdev Sandhu
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It’s not the worst film you’ll see all year, but it’s not going to wind up on anyone’s honour roll, either.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
10/13/07
William Thomas
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Laughs aplenty in this daft comedy about "letting go" .

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
09/29/07
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

Thornton is magnificent as the unrepentant monster.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
09/28/07
James Christopher
James Christopher
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
09/15/07
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
03/21/08
Sydney Morning Herald
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Mark Bazer
Mark Bazer
Boston Phoenix

[Sarandon is] somehow the only star who doesn't end up looking like an overpaid idiot working miles beneath her abilities. And that's a pretty cutting thing to say when you figure in Scott's standard fratboy follies.

Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
09/16/07
Aaron Hillis
Aaron Hillis
Premiere Magazine

Just from eyeing the Mr. Woodcock movie poster, you could suspect exactly what the movie will be. Just 90 minutes later, your suspicions would be confirmed.

Full Review Source: HollywoodChicago.com | comment Comment
09/21/07
Adam Fendelman
Adam Fendelman
HollywoodChicago.com

Thornton and Sarandon should have their Oscars repossessed, or at least temporarily revoked, for appearing in this insipid comedy.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
09/14/07
Adam Graham
Adam Graham
Detroit News

Child abuse: har-dee-har-har.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
09/14/07
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

In the film’s attempt to straddle feel-good and feel-bad, ultimately one feels nothing.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
09/14/07
Annlee Ellingson
Annlee Ellingson
Boxoffice Magazine

Mr. Woodcock is not really a crowd pleaser or some kind of 'dumb as dirt' delight. Instead, it's an apparent attempt to reset the demarcation when determining the lowest common denominator.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
09/15/07
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
PopMatters

It's just another comedy of contrived mortification and misunderstanding.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
09/14/07
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Mr. Woodcock

January 14, 2008: RT on DVD: Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Woodcock, Family Guy Goes Star Wars!
Instead of dwelling on the abysmally-reviewed home video offerings of the week - Billy Bob Thornton's Mr. Woodcock and Dane Cook's Good Luck Chuck -- we're thrilled to point out... More...

September 16, 2007: Box Office Guru Wrapup: Jodie Struggles But Still Hits #1
For the second straight weekend, a star-driven action drama aimed at adult audiences opened at number one with $14M in ticket sales from roughly 2,700 theaters. This time it was... More...

September 13, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Jodie's Got A Gun!
Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster returns to the big screen this weekend in the vigilante thriller The Brave One which has its sights set on an easy top spot debut. The frame's... More...

September 13, 2007: Critical Consensus: Brave One Isn't Tops, Mr. Woodcock is Flaccid, Hunting Party is Busted
This week at the movies, we've got vigilantes (The Brave One, starring Jodie Foster), gym teachers (Mr. Woodcock starring Billy Bob Thornton and Susan Sarandon), war... More...

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