This entry was posted on Saturday, December 15th, 2007 at 7:44 pm and is filed under Comedy, M, NEW ON VIDEO. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Melissa Sagemiller, Ethan Suplee
Hmmm, so Craig Gillespie, who directed this forgettable feature, also did the acclaimed Lars and The Real Girl, as well. Curious. Billy Bob Thornton is good as he under acts the amusing title villain, but Seann William Scott isn’t quite able to keep up as the other lead, and the inconsistent story doesn’t give either of them much help. It does have its moments, however. There is just something damn funny about watching grown men having a blood feud at the Whack-A-Mole carnival game.
Seann William Scott, best known as Stifler from the American Pie series, is John Farley, a high school loser, who was tormented by a sadistic gym teacher, Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton), before going on to write a best-selling, self-help book. Things are sailing along so well for John, that is corn-farming hometown invites him back to receive the coveted corncob key to the city (or something like that). Once home, he is stunned to discover that his mom, played by Susan Sarandon, is dating his haunting high school nemesis, who hasn’t changed a bit. The well-adjusted, self-assured author finds himself regressing in a quest for respect, vengeance or understanding from the enigmatic Woodcock, who really couldn’t give a shit about him.
Mr. Woodcock has a few chuckles, but there isn’t enough story and humor for me to recommend it to anyone but non-discriminating humor fans and those who find Billy Bob in comedies to be irresistible, this might be worth a rental, but you should really find a support group.
