'HALL PASS': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
The Farrelly Brothers are well past their prime. Now in their 50's, they're much older than when they first broke on the scene with 'DUMB & DUMBER' seventeen years ago and had their biggest box office hit in 'THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY' thirteen years ago. They've lost some of their edge over the years, as well as originality, and now they've disguised this well intentioned tribute to the values of love and marriage as a guys gone wild party film. They're films have always had heart though and this film still has plenty of dick and fart jokes. The trailers may be misleading and it may not live up to their best films but it's a decent comedy flick with enough good laughs to please most Farrelly fans.
The film stars Owen Wilson (who's past his prime as well) and Jason Sudeikis (of 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' fame) as two married men who are given a week pass to pretend like their not married and sleep with as many girls as they want. Their wives, played by Jenna Fischer (of 'THE OFFICE') and Christina Applegate, think that if they let their sex obsessed husbands get it out of their system their marriages might be better off because of it. They also realize, as the men do not, that they're not the guys they used to be and will most likely fail at picking up the young hot girls they think they can get (and it's definitely a challenge for them). Things get complicated when the women are hit on by other men while their husbands are out trying to get laid by other women.
The film is directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly and written by the two as well as Kevin Barnett and Pete Jones (who the Farrelly Brothers purchased the original script from back in 2005). Pete Jones was the first winner of the Project Greenlight film project and his films before this have both been religious themed. So it's no surprise that the film has a very pro-marriage conservative message. I personally liked the theme of the movie and the characters and about half the jokes. Some jokes of course fall flat and some of the emotional drama is a little over done as well. Of course parts of the film are over the top but that's to be expected. Wilson and especially Sudeikis are great in the leads and the supporting cast is all impressive as well (including Richard Jenkins, Stephen Merchant and the beautiful Nicky Whelan). It's not quite as hilarious as the films from the Farrelly Brother's glory days but it's still a pretty funny and effective comedy.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95Zjdlcbe0
The Farrelly Brothers are well past their prime. Now in their 50's, they're much older than when they first broke on the scene with 'DUMB & DUMBER' seventeen years ago and had their biggest box office hit in 'THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY' thirteen years ago. They've lost some of their edge over the years, as well as originality, and now they've disguised this well intentioned tribute to the values of love and marriage as a guys gone wild party film. They're films have always had heart though and this film still has plenty of dick and fart jokes. The trailers may be misleading and it may not live up to their best films but it's a decent comedy flick with enough good laughs to please most Farrelly fans.
The film stars Owen Wilson (who's past his prime as well) and Jason Sudeikis (of 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' fame) as two married men who are given a week pass to pretend like their not married and sleep with as many girls as they want. Their wives, played by Jenna Fischer (of 'THE OFFICE') and Christina Applegate, think that if they let their sex obsessed husbands get it out of their system their marriages might be better off because of it. They also realize, as the men do not, that they're not the guys they used to be and will most likely fail at picking up the young hot girls they think they can get (and it's definitely a challenge for them). Things get complicated when the women are hit on by other men while their husbands are out trying to get laid by other women.
The film is directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly and written by the two as well as Kevin Barnett and Pete Jones (who the Farrelly Brothers purchased the original script from back in 2005). Pete Jones was the first winner of the Project Greenlight film project and his films before this have both been religious themed. So it's no surprise that the film has a very pro-marriage conservative message. I personally liked the theme of the movie and the characters and about half the jokes. Some jokes of course fall flat and some of the emotional drama is a little over done as well. Of course parts of the film are over the top but that's to be expected. Wilson and especially Sudeikis are great in the leads and the supporting cast is all impressive as well (including Richard Jenkins, Stephen Merchant and the beautiful Nicky Whelan). It's not quite as hilarious as the films from the Farrelly Brother's glory days but it's still a pretty funny and effective comedy.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95Zjdlcbe0