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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 Woodcock’s class have since been replaced by the self confidence gained from becoming a successful writer and motivational speaker.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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81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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If this film were one of his students, Mr. Woodcock would have every reason to tell it to take another lap.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
09/14/07
Peter T. Chattaway
Peter T. Chattaway
Christianity Today

A predictable mano-a-mano macho competition that bogs and meanders.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
09/14/07
Frank Lovece
Frank Lovece
Film Journal International

A test of the audience's patience and of Sarandon's ability to maintain her dignity.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
09/14/07
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

Thornton never cracks a smile... His gloom is infectious.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
09/14/07
Stephen Cole
Stephen Cole
Globe and Mail

Does anyone need further proof that perhaps Billy Bob Thornton is a comedy wet blanket?

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/13/07
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
eFilmCritic.com

The few and far between chuckles and an amusing performance from Amy Poehler only keep it from being a painfully unfunny experience.

Full Review Source: Mark Reviews Movies | comment Comment
09/13/07
Mark Dujsik
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies

Has some good laughs (anytime a 10-year old kid gets hit in the head with a basketball that's funny, it's comedy gold), but the movie can be best described as predictable.

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment Comment
09/13/07
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

completely aimless and without the slightest sense of fun

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
09/13/07
Chris Cabin
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com

Instead of ending, it all just gives up with a sort of "never mind" ending that even Mr. Woodcock would have to call a foul on. Indeed, that is the best possible assessment of the movie as a whole.

Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
09/13/07
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

A painfully unfunny and mean-spirited comedy, in which Billy Bob Thornton simply plays the same acerbic jerk character he's been playing since Bad Santa, and jockish Seann William Scott tries to pass himself off as a former high school loser.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
09/13/07
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

For Woodcock to deliver, the leads needed to amp things up, to bring their A-game, or at least match the effort they've thrown at previous versions of these characters.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
09/13/07
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

It's actually not a bad movie, with enough scattered laughs to make it worth seeing. At matinee prices, anyway. At the cheap theater.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
09/13/07
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Director Craig Gillespie clearly knows a few things; most important: If you have only 95 minutes of material, make an only 95-minute movie. Amazing how often that's forgotten.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
09/13/07
Stephen Hunter
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post

[A] marginally promising -- but ultimately unfunny -- comedy.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
09/13/07
Jessica Reaves
Jessica Reaves
Chicago Tribune

In this post-Apatow-the-arrested-development-genius world, it can't compete. The only thing worth watching is Sarandon, popping in from a classier reality.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
09/13/07
Marc Bernardin
Marc Bernardin
Entertainment Weekly

Director Craig Gillespie keeps things moving along at a brisk clip, without doing anything particularly distracting or stylistic.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
09/13/07
John Anderson
John Anderson
Newsday

There are a decent number of laughs, but with all that potential, it's hard not to think Mr. Woodcock is loafing. And that it's the one that ought to be forced to run laps.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
09/13/07
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Mr. Woodcock is funny for exactly five minutes, during which time Woodcock is shown throwing basketballs at boys’ heads and mocking them for having dead parents.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
09/13/07
Josh Rosenblatt
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle

Like a pitcher throwing three good innings, losing his fastball in the next three and tossing the ball in the stands at the end of the game.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
09/13/07
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

It's not offensive, just anemic. And even Coach Billy Bob can't whip it into shape.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
09/13/07
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion
 
 
81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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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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