Billy Bob Thornton is on a roll…. Please make him stop making these types of films, pretty please. Although from the look of things in the film, he might be tiring of these films since he looks really bored during the duration of this stinker.
John Farley (Sean William Scott) is a hometown boy who’s made good. He’s the author of a popular self-help book and has been successful enough to have a snarky agent (Amy Poehler). She let’s slip out that she’s been contacted that John has won the “Corn Cob Key” during his Nebraskan hometown’s annual “Cornival.”
She wants him to appear on Oprah to hock his book and was going to refuse the honor. John however is elated to get this honor and flies back to his hometown. He finds out that his mother (Susan Sarandon) is dating John’s terrifying gym teacher Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton).
Since John still stings from Woodcock’s barbs during gym class, he decides to go against his self-help mantras and make sure that mom doesn’t get anymore Woodcock.
However, the damage has been done since this film just adds some junk to the IMDB listings of all those involved. Sean William Scott also began to get to me with his self-help asinine platitudes that he immediately seems to throw aside for his lame vendetta against Woodcock.
Amy Poehler tries, and has been very funny in other films, but can’t stand up against the rancor coming the rest of the film not to mention that her part is more abbreviated than Sarandon.
Mr. Woodcock is a rather flaccid experience and I couldn’t wait till the damn thing was over and kept checking my watch. Some may think that it’s the cat’s meow, but I think that the majority will want their money back after the final credits begin to roll (thank God it’s over!).
Mr. Woodcock is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and enhanced for 16x9 televisions.
Special features include 13 minutes of deleted and alternative scenes, a 15 minute making of featurette, and the 12 minute “P.E. Trauma Tales” where the filmmakers talk about their gym teachers/experiences. Finally you get the 2 minute theatrical trailer and a collection of trailers for New Line DVDs.
Mr. Woodcock continues the downward spiral of Billy Bob Thornton’s acting career and has narly a laugh in it. In fact, it’s downright embarrassing and I had to turn away a time or two from the gunk that was on the screen. Even those that enjoyed the perversity of Bad Santa will find little to like here since this Woodcock is full of termites.
Mr. Woodcock is now available at Amazon . It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for a Jan. 28th release. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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