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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 Woodcock’s class have since been replaced by the self confidence gained from becoming a successful writer and motivational speaker.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 critic A-Z)
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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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Certainly, it's mediocre, but no more so than half the comedies that are wildly promoted by their studios these days.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
09/14/07
William Arnold
William Arnold
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

There's a funny movie somewhere in Mr. Woodcock. It's too bad that the filmmakers weren't more mindful of the pot.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
09/14/07
Mack Bates
Mack Bates
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

we're stuck with Amy Poehler telling us she's an alcoholic and an unaware Susan Sarandon watching two men act like idiots, which unfortunately isn't funny at all.

Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review | comment Comment
03/03/08
Jeff Bayer
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review

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)

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Child abuse: har-dee-har-har.

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

Mr. Woodcock is often as juvenile and predictable as its title suggests. Yet, this dark comedy about a self-help author plotting revenge on his sadistic former gym coach gets honest laughs because of performances that ring universally true.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
09/14/07
Steven Boone
Steven Boone
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Disappointing.

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

A comedy with unappealing characters and an ending that just doesn't make any sense given what has preceded it.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
09/15/07
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

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

If Mr. Woodcock himself were to assess this movie, he'd say, 'This movie is a disgrace to all goopy, gelatinous, half-baked movies the world over.'

Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment Comment
09/14/07
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
Film School Rejects

There's more genuine humor to be gleaned from saying 'Woodcock' over and over again than from watching Mr. Woodcock.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/13/07
Justin Chang
Justin Chang
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Thornton is magnificent as the unrepentant monster.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
09/28/07
James Christopher
James Christopher
Times [UK]

Watch out when the best thing to say about a movie is that director Craig Gillespie has staged one of the better 'getting catapulted off of a treadmill' scenes.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
09/15/07
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

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 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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Billy Bob Thornton is just as mean as a gym coach as he is as Santa Claus.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
09/15/07
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
 
 
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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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