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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: PG-13

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:2006

Box Office: $25,769,067

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 Woodcock’s class have since been replaced by the self confidence gained from becoming a successful writer and motivational speaker.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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Release:

Jan 15, 2008

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Reviews for Mr. Woodcock

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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To laugh at parts of this film would indicate one has a streak of Woodcockism in oneself. But to gaze in stupefied fascination is perfectly understandable.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment 2 Comments
09/14/07
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

a one-joke premise that will only appeal to those who snicker at the film's title.

Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment 2 Comments
09/12/07
Sean McBride
Sean McBride
Sean the Movie Guy
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: Screen International | comment Comment
09/22/07
Screen International
N/R

Click to read the article

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

[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

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

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

Billy Bob Thornton simply couldn't be better as the rude, tyrannical P.E. teacher whose answer to everything is '10 laps.'

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/15/07
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

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

It’s interesting that Thornton should become embraced for playing assertive, caustic types, because in reality he’s so little like that.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
09/15/07
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
FilmStew.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/20/07
Brian Marder
Brian Marder
Hollywood.com

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

Even though it was stuck in development for a while, it deserved another lap around the screenwriting gym.

Full Review Source: UGO | comment Comment
09/14/07
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
UGO

While often both funny and perceptive, it's less than memorable, and a weak ending reduces it to more of a time-filler than a movie that's truly worthwhile.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
09/05/07
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

One can't help but wonder what the Coens or Farrellys might have done with this cast and premise.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
10/22/07
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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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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