Mister Woodcock (2007)

Mister Woodcock (2007)

HBO On Demand, Seattle, WA

August 14, 2008

*** ½ / ****

By Scott Muoio

With a title that screams childish buffoonery it is easy to dismiss a film like Mister Woodcock without giving it a second glance. Indeed, many a critic has done just that lambasting the film as typical, unfunny, and stupid. To skewer Woodcock in such a manner, however, does little more than display said critic’s biased ignorance and cement his or her place in the annals of critical idiocy. You see, at first glance Woodcock may appear to be juvenile entertainment and mean-spirited stupidity but a study of its finer details proves otherwise. Yes, Woodcock is strange, Woodcock is dark in its humour, and Woodcock is completely ridiculous, but Woodcock is also the funniest movie since Borat.

The story in Mister Woodcock is nothing special yet serves as the perfect springboard for its excellent cast to take the ball and run for a touchdown. Seann William Scott steals the show as Chris Farley, a successful self-help guru invited back to his hometown in order to receive the key to the city at the annual Cornival (think Corn + Carnival). Billy Bob Thornton plays Farley’s former phys. ed. teacher, Mister Woodock, an aggressively sadistic taskmaster who, on a regular basis, mentally and physically beat down Farley and his schoolmates in their youth. The two re-connect when Farley arrives home and finds that his widower mother (Susan Sarandon) is dating the scourge of his life and the man most responsible for his guru mantra, “let go: get past your past,” Woodcock, himself. Worse yet, Woodcock is set to receive a civic award for Educator of the Year, shocking for a man whose teaching technique involves pegging kids with basketballs, smacking them in the crotch with baseball bats, and standing on their backs as they do push-ups. Indeed, “tough love” never seemed so cruel, or funny.

Woodcock succeeds as a riotous comedy for a number of reasons. The most important is its amazing cast. Seann William Scott is a very likable actor whose subtle facial expressions, realistically silly delivery, and comic timing are extremely underrated. It is amazing to watch Scott degenerate from rehabilitated child punching bag to confident adult spiraling back to his helpless youth. From kill him with kindness to just plain kill him, Scott’s Woodcock paranoia is a gut-busting joy to behold. And what would our tormented hero be without a demonic tormentor to torment him? That’s where Thornton comes in.

Thornton’s Woodcock is a deadpan asshole who never cracks a smile, always gets the last word, and somehow earns the respect of everyone he tortures, humiliates, and ridicules. To see Thornton’s blowhard bravado not only on display but praised endlessly by the other characters in the film is brilliant and hilarious stuff. Thornton may have played a similar role in Bad Santa, but to see him heralded for his put downs by those who feel the brunt adds a level of sophistication to the jokes that takes them to another level.

The last member of the triumvirate, Susan Sarandon, plays Scott’s mom, Thornton’s girlfriend, and the object of both their affections. Sweet, caring, and just rough enough to put the boys in their place before things get really out of control Sarandon’s Beverly is the perfect straight man for the pair’s absurd rivalry. Seeing the three play tug-of-war for an hour and a half is excellent fun and a tremendous bit of casting. These are three consummate professionals whose golden chemistry is integral to Woodcock’s glowing success.

The only blemish on Woodcock’s otherwise spotless slate is Amy Poehler as Farley’s publicist. Poehler, as usual, over plays her character screaming every line as she ineffectually attempts to be a female Woodcock. Unfortunately, every time she appears on screen the film grinds to a halt as the decibels rise and the chuckles disappear. Yelling isn’t acting nor is it particularly funny and Poehler proves once more that the only role she has ever adequately performed was Rob Schneider’s foul-mouthed, torretz-syndrome date in Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo. Whatever.

Bottom line: Mister Woodcock is a hilarious, dark, perverse comedy that deserves much more respect than it has gotten. Whether you find yourself giggling in spite of yourself or because you’re a pint-sized Woodcock from time to time in your own life, Mister Woodcock will make you laugh. If it doesn’t, then maybe you deserve to be smacked in the crotch by Woodcock, too. Only then will you appreciate how lucky you are to have spent some time with the gym teacher from Hell.

Director: Craig Gillespie

Producer: Bob Cooper, David Dobkin

Writer: Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert

Music: Theodore Shapiro

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Ethan Suplee