Mr. Woodcock (2007) User Reviews

More mediocre comedy from Thornton-on-autopilot

[Tamphex · 4/10 · 1 November 2007]

Like last year's School for Scoundrels, Woodcock is yet another movie in which Billy Bob Thornton plays a violent dick (no pun intended) and fails to be anywhere near as funny as he should be, thanks to a sloppy, almost laugh-less script. To make matters worse, he's not the only comedian whose considerable talents are wasted on this predictable mess; Ethan Suplee and Seann William Scott, two of the funniest men alive, have nearly nothing to do with their characters. Speaking of predictability, here's a cliché for you: Seen the trailer? Then you've seen the movie. Just about every truly funny part was crammed into the commercials.

I love Bad Santa and all, but it has really done more harm than good seeing as another Thornton-acts-like-a-sociopath-and-gets-away-with-it "comedy" gets released every year. He is an amazing actor and totally wasted on these forgettable carbon copies. I'm not denying that I laughed a couple of times ('cause let's face it, Thornton abusing kids is funny by default) but in the end Woodcock is just a half-baked comedy-drama which is neither hilarious nor touching.

Not a total failure, but I think the trailer made promises it failed to keep.

[jigsawsXapprentice · 6/10 · 17 September 2007]

I was pretty excited to see this movie because from what I saw it seemed really funny and I like Seann William Scott but I have to say I was sort of disappointed. Granted I went in expecting a funny stupid comedy but, it really wasn't all that funny. It seemed to me like they put all the funny scenes into the trailers and the rest of the movie was just filler. It's like they tried to be a really hilarious comedy but then towards the end they tried to take an emotional turn and by then I was pretty disappointed by the lack of hilarity that I didn't care anymore. And don't get me wrong, I did laugh, but I laughed at all the parts I had already seen in the trailers.

All in all, this movie wasn't a total failure, but I wouldn't bother watching it again.

Some laughs in a one dimensional tale thats been done before

[dbborroughs · 4/10 · 14 October 2007]

Self-help guru who hated his gym teacher goes home to find his mom engaged to said teacher, stilted merriment tries to ensue. The idea is sound the execution isn't. Woodcock, Billy Bob Thorton's gym teacher character is much too one dimensional to really work since he has one expression the whole time. Sean William Scott as the self help guru tries too hard to be wacky and falls on his face. Actually the script just doesn't work since its so obvious where its going. There are laughs and smiles despite of the lack of it all hanging together, and one "Whoa" nervous "oh crap he really got hurt" laugh towards the end. Worth a look on a slow night on cable where you'll be more forgiving of the dull bits on the way to the good ones.

Who hasn't had a Woodcock in their life? OK, that sounded gross

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 7/10 · 14 September 2007]

I was so excited to see Mr. Woodcock today, saw the matinée this morning and I have to say that Mr. Woodcock lived up to my expectations. It was a great comedy to watch and had a lot of fun laughs. I think the reason why I love this film so much is because I could totally relate to it, in junior high I was the fat kid and had the teacher who must have been the partner of Satan, he was evil. I've changed quite a bit since then, but I still think of that teacher every once in a while. So this was just such a good comedy for everyone who has had to deal with a gym teacher like Mr. Woodcock. The actors seemed to really enjoy themselves, it was cool seeing Sean William Scott out of his normal idiotic roles and into something where he just was a normal guy, he did good. Billy Bob Thorton couldn't have been a more perfect choice, he was terrific. Together they really made the story work and was actually believable.

John Farley is a very successful author of the book "Letting Go", a book on how to let go of a rough past and rebuild your life. He comes back home to surprise his mom and get a special award for his work, but he finds out his mom is dating someone he knows. Mr. Woodcock, the evil junior high gym teacher that made John's life a living hell; and it looks like Mr. Woodcock has not changed his ways when he starts to treat "Farley" the same way he did when he was a kid. But it looks like they have to get comfortable with each other since Mr. Woodcock is marrying John's mom.

The cast looked like they just had a great time. I know this story was extremely predictable, but it was all in good fun. I loved seeing John's character just loose it as the story continued. There were some really great laughs in the film, the scene that got me was definitely the pot hole scene, I'm not going to spoil it, but I guarantee you for sure that you'll get a huge laugh once you see it. Mr. Woodcock is a fun comedy that I recommend, Billy Bob is just an awesome Mr. Woodcock, he really made the movie into a blast.

7/10

Diving to Miss the Dodgeballs of Life.

[tfrizzell · 27 December 2007]

Successful novelist Seann William Scott returns to his hometown to be honored for his career. His mother (Susan Sarandon) now dates the titled character (Billy Bob Thornton), Scott's former gym teacher who forever tormented and belittled him as a husky youth. Thus Scott must now break the two up and forever exorcise Thorton from his life and his past. Nickel and dime production of the simplest sort with admittedly bigger names than usual. Thornton's dead-pan, dead-eye approach is funny and effective to an extent. However, he lacks the material he had in similar ventures ("Bad Santa"). Sarandon seems like she is in the wrong movie all together and Scott still has that "American Pie" tendency to annoy rather than entertain the masses. Not bad for a chuckle and short enough to be painless, but it hardly makes a cinematic impression at all. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

One of the WORST comedies in recent years!

[guyfromjerzee · 2/10 · 21 September 2007]

This so-called comedy is horrendous on all levels, and worst of all--it's boring! It's forgettable! This doesn't even fall into the so-bad-it's good category. About the only positive thing I can say about "Mr. Woodcock" is that it's only a little under 80 minutes long. I was looking forward to seeing the flick, since I am a pretty big Billy Bob Thornton fan. Unfortunately, with this movie, he has officially completed the trifecta of duds. First there was "School for Scoundrels," which was mediocre. Then there was "The Astronaut Farmer," which was also mediocre. Now we have "Mr. Woodcock," which is downright awful. There are many actors who I admire and even adore, who have done a fair share of bad movies, but for some reason (before these three movies) I can't think of any less-than-satisfying ones that Billy Bob has done, except for maybe "Waking Up in Reno." It seems like he has reached the I'm-just-here-to-pick-up-my-paycheck phase of his career.

The movie has an interesting premise. We all have had crappy gym teachers in the past. Unfortunately, the plot goes nowhere and flings us into one implausible, sitcom-level situation after another. My main problem with the plot is that we're supposed to believe that Mr. Woodcock is a gem to everyone, except Seann William Scott's character. Susan Sarandon's character supposedly finds this man charming, when in all actuality he doesn't show even an ounce of charm throughout the flick. Maybe it would've been funny if he were really mean towards Scott, yet he acts like the nicest guy towards everybody else. We're even supposed to believe that all the townsfolk in this sleepy Midwestern town think he's a great person.

My second problem with the plot? Seann William Scott transforms from a calm, mild-mannered motivational speaker to an insane wreck...within a matter of 10 minutes! What kind of character arc is that? First of all, Scott is sadly miscast in his role. Personally, I don't think he possesses much range as an actor. He's Stiffler...that's that! Any role that doesn't require him to be a rude, foul-mouthed weasel takes him out of his element. I was never convinced that Scott was a well-meaning motivational speaker with worldwide acclaim. Amy Poehler, of "SNL" infamy, tries to steal the show with her snappy one-liners. Unfortunately, she's just as talentless as the rest of "SNL's" current cast, and does nothing to breathe life into this comatose flick.

The gags are absolutely predictable and brainless. As if this would surprise anyone, this is another one of those comedies where all the good jokes are given away in the trailer. There's one gag involving a video camera accidentally being left running while Ethan Suplee's character gabs on and on about how hot Scott's mother is. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to discover that there's going to be a later scene, where Susan Sarandon walks in as the video is playing on a TV screen. Not to mention each gag is delivered with all the gusto of a student filmmaker.

This movie is such a waste of two brilliant actors. Billy Bob sleeps through his role, keeping the same sneering expression every minute he's on screen. I can't blame him. Like I said before, he probably just did the film to collect a paycheck. Susan Sarandon is forced to play an utterly brainless character, who falls for Woodcock's charm, despite the fact that he has none! I can't recall a worse film she's ever done. I hope her paycheck was pretty huge as well.

Plain and simple, this is another lamebrain comedy you should skip. I wouldn't even recommend this on DVD. If you happen to catch it on cable, please change the channel. I can think of a lot of bad comedies that have come out in recent years, but few as merit-less as this one.

a wheel-spinning comedy

[Buddy-51 · 5/10 · 25 January 2008]

"Mr. Woodcock" is one of those movies that sounds great on paper, but which loses something on its way to the big screen.

Jasper Woodcock is a sadistic high school PE teacher who, through the course of his career, has made life a veritable hell for most of the boys enrolled in his class. One of his students, an overweight kid by the name of John Farley, grows up to write a best-selling self-help book about letting go of one's past as a means of embracing one's future. When John returns to his small town Nebraska home for a visit, he's mortified to discover that this very same Mr. Woodcock has become his widowed mother's new boyfriend. Farley spends the rest of the movie doing everything he can think of to sabotage the romance, systematically violating all the precepts in the book that has made him so famous.

With few exceptions, "Mr. Woodcock" fails to exploit the black comedy potential of its material, settling for homogenized, crowd-pleasing pablum instead. That's not to say that there aren't some occasionally amusing moments in the film, only that they are too few and far between to turn the film into anything more than, at best, an average Hollywood comedy. Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon and Seann William Scott (Stifler in the "American Pie" movies) have all proved their talent and likability many times in the past, but they aren't allowed to go much beyond one-note performances in this film. However, it's nice to see veteran character actor Bill Macy ("Maude") again, very funny in his one scene as Woodcock's obnoxiously overbearing father.

Pretty solid comedy

[eternalsea · 6/10 · 10 September 2007]

Mr. Woodcock is the sort of film that I usually dread going to see, a sort of Meet The Parents rip off in the same vein as recent pictures like Relative Strangers and Guess Who. To be fair this movie betters both of those considerably, mainly due to the talented cast at the directors reach. Seann William Scott is great for the first time since American Pie, in a much more subtle role. I expected many things after seeing this young man back in 1999 and The Dukes of Hazzard and American Wedding weren't among them, so to see him hit the comic notes perfectly again is quite refreshing. Thornton ever since heavy success with Bad Santa back in 2003 has been making a career of playing weirdos (usually mean ones) and as Woodcock he's a solid choice who digs up several strong laughs. Sarandon is a lot more cardboard and ultimately unmemorable in her role, you forget her character at times but I guess thats all the script wanted and shes a pretty good actress to snare for the part. The story is pretty strong and a really good idea for the most part, the whole idea should have nerds everywhere rejoicing and cringing in equal amounts. The comedy does feel slight when taken against the premise but at the same time it's never overly offensive or dumb. The script has ups and downs in terms of gags, but the overall feeling is pleasantly entertaining. I enjoyed this movie and probably would happily suggest you pick it up on DVD when it hits the Summer sales next year or indeed give it a rental on initial release.

Bullies. Are they bad or do they define us?

[hacks-56635 · 5/10 · 29 December 2019]

It's interesting to watch this movie for the first time now, 12 years later...

In a lot of ways, this is a very predictable recipe that tries to make a feel-good comedy emerge from sociopath behavior.

And the punch line, bullies, are they bad, or do they help us?

Writing is meh but ok. Actors are well, great actors but only giving an ok performance. Gave a 5 as it sits right there in the middle between good and bad. Would not recommend nor ever watch again, but can't say I hated it and it mostly held my attention.

Most interesting to me as a middle aged white male who lived through the bullies and kind of enjoyed the conflict is the questions raised about the validity of trials and tribulations to allow us to discover and define ourselves.

In the majority of human history, survival itself was enough of a challenge to hold our full attention. In some periods of human history, war served this purpose. In my parents' time, their parents and other adults seemed to be enough of a challenge. And in the 80's and 90's, when I was coming of age, bullies were the thing.

Now that bullying has been come down on so hard, and this type of behavior would clearly get a teacher fired, I can't help but wonder what our delicate little flowers are faced with to challenge and define their sense of self-worth...

What is most funny to me is that this so called comedy is pretty much super offensive by today's PC culture.

I Was Actually Laughing!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 13 July 2009]

Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed this film. This is not the best comedy ever, but it succeeds at what it does best: make the audience laugh(me). I see why people hated this, but I found the movie to be clever especially with the talented duo of Seann William Scott and Billy Bob Thornton.

This film is about an evil gym teacher who makes his students lives miserable especially John Farley. Many years later Farley and Mr. Woodcock meet again because Woodcock is dating Farley's mother. It's up to Farley to stop this from happening.

The actors did a credible job. Billy Bob Thornton is probably the best. He was the one who cracked me up the most. Scott is pretty funny, not as funny as his American Pie films.

People compare this movie to Meet the Parents. That movie is much better because it's in another category of its own. This movie is just for guilty pleasure. I rate this film 9/10.

Good film, nobody needs surgery

[mstew99-2 · 7/10 · 15 September 2007]

Susan Sarandon looked fine, in fact great for her character. I thought the movie was funny and just plain entertaining.

I liked the broad humor as well as the occasional slapstick bit. In addition, there was some social/philosophical commentary that went well with the light tone of the movie.

Although the 'Cornival' was a bit corny, that was the point. John, Mr. Woodcock's nemesis, was searching for a connection with his roots and eventually realized that he was more disconnected than he thought, having to change his general outlook and his relationships with the people he most cared about.

Painful To Watch.

[Matt_Layden · 4/10 · 20 July 2009]

All throughout high school Mr Woodcock gave kids a really hard time in gym class. So hard that one student wrote a book on how to live your life and overcome such obstacles. This young man is all grown up and returns home to hear that his mother is engaged to...Mr. Woodcock. Thus providing more hard times for our lead character and apparently some unfunny situations that we are suppose to laugh at.

Ever since the very funny Bad Santa, there have been a slew of Billy Bob Thorton plays an asshole type comedy. The one prior to this entry was School For Scoundrels. Now, if you play this two movies one after another I guarantee you that you would not be able to tell which character was from which movie, since they are almost the exact same. This film and Scoundrels, both feature Thorton an autopilot. While he still gets the laughs, it's the rest of the film that fails horribly around him, It makes me wonder how many more of these films we are going to get.

Sean William Scott gets no laughs here. He is not playing the perverted jerk (Road Trip, American Pie) nor is this an action comedy (The Rundown, Bullet Proof Monk). So we are treated to a boring character, played by a wooden Scott. I can't help but say that the lead role was horrible miscast here.

The script is nothing new, nor funny. Mr. Woodcock unfortunately falls into the category that hurt so many comedies. The old, "If You've Seen The Trailer, You've Seen All The Funny Parts". It is completely true in this case. I did chuckle here and there, but that's only because Thorton is abusive to little kids.

the director should GROW a woodcock before he attempts to make anything longer than 30 seconds.

[between_the_fps · 2/10 · 16 September 2007]

another hack job from commercial director doldrums. the director should GROW a woodcock before he attempts to make anything longer than 30 seconds.

what else to say really? rehash; unoriginal; as cute as a (insert brand) commercial; a director who thinks funny is obvious; who thinks a quarter-beat = profundity; and the real shame here is that talented actors didn't have much to work with or anyone to guide them. at least they were paid.

watch out for those (insert dangerous freeway obstacle {basketBalls!}) losers.

A Nutshell Review: Mr. Woodcock

[DICK STEEL · 7/10 · 13 October 2007]

"Take a lap!" "Set of 10!"

With a name like W-o-o-d-c-o-c-k (roll it off your tongue slowly for maximum effect), you'd have expect the jokes to come fast and furious about the appendage. Well there are, however, the best parts of Mr Woodcock are not the sexual innuendos, but come from the various gymnasium scenes, where Jasper Woodcock (Billy Bob Thorton) the PE teacher runs his classes like a sadistic drill sergeant, and all the misfits tremble in fear and loathe as he puts them through the paces, with physical, mental and emotional abuse dished out in deadpan manner. The filmmakers know this, and set the bar high enough from the get go, but only for the movie to spiral in the general southwards direction.

Thirteen years after his unforgettable years of growing up under Mr Woodcock's insults, John Farley (Seann William Scott) becomes a renowned self help guru and published a bestseller called "Letting Go: How to Get Past Your Past", because it takes one successful loser to teach the rest how to move on. During a journey back home where you're hit with a barrage of literally corny jokes, John realizes to his horror that his mother Beverly (Susan Sarandon) is now dating Mr Woodcock, and he makes it his mission to dissuade her from giving him a new stepdad, one who has been the bane of his childhood.

That basically becomes the premise of the movie, and a highly predictable one at that. You'll see from a mile away every conceivable plot development coming toward you, and it doesn't help that the short run time of under 90 minutes probably meant some material were reserved for the DVD release. You can tell by some of the continuity errors, helped in no part by John's bad haircut episode.

Billy Bob Thorton owns the movie as Woodcock, delivery his deliciously acidic remarks with aplomb. Alpha-male type roles are nothing new to Thorton, and bullying or whipping losers to shape are part of the game, just like School for Scoundrels. And here he plays the unapologetic teacher with EQ problems, taking perverse delight in seeing his charges suffer. Sean William Scott is better known unfortunately for his loud and over the top Stifler from the American Pie movies, but given a rather muted character like John Farley, he fades away quicker than you can spell l-o-s-e-r. Susan Sarandon rounds up the lead cast as the woman caught between two men, and frankly I thought it was like an extension of her mother's role in Elizabethtown. Look out for more Sarandon in an upcoming movie called Enchanted, which takes the mickey out of a Disney movie. Most of the other supporting cast like Amy Poehler and Ethan Suplee got wasted, with the former being a self-professed alcoholic Barbie doll, while the other a fanatic who had read John's book 900 times and counting.

Mr Woodcock isn't laugh out loud or laugh a minute, but it has its moments. Sadly, most of the best bits made their way to the trailers, making the movie seem like an empty shell. And given the editing fiasco of late, Mr Woodcock suffers from censorship too, with what I thought was just verbal expressions of ecstasy being snipped off and left on the cutting room floor. Pity.

Painful

[bjagront · 1/10 · 5 February 2008]

I couldn't even watch the entire movie. It was horrible. It just wasn't funny at all. Sean William Scott is a funny guy, I think this was just the wrong role for him. And Billy Bob is a fantastic actor. I don't know where this one went wrong. The premise is great. This could have been outrageously funny given either a different mix of cast or better directing. But in it's current state, it sucked. Big time. I think Jason Biggs or someone who is more of a "straight man" funny-type would have been better in the lead role. But given it's current state, I would advise you to avoid this piece-of-crap. It's just out and out not funny.

Watch it if you have nothing else to do

[barrys82 · 6/10 · 16 January 2008]

Its an average movie, its not that great but it isn't bad also. It has some funny moments but I expected a non stop laughing comedy but it wasn't. The story about John Farley a man Who as a kid was a little overweight and received the abuse of his gym teacher, returns to his hometown just to notice that his mother is dating the same gym teacher , he will try everything to break up the relationship. The cast is very good. Billy Bob Thornton in a role that fits him like a glove but that has been repeating for the last three movies. Susan Sarandon is good, her performance is quite regular. Sean William Scott was OK, a performance that wasn't developed to the 100%. Amy Poehler role as a neurotic and alcoholic manager was really funny. In general this is a movie that you will enjoy but its not the best option to spend a good time. Watch it if you don't have a better thing to do

Impeccable acting. Script needed work.

[Charliesafari333 · 6/10 · 17 December 2022]

Billy Bob Thornton gives the character its spirit. He portrays the ultimate man, impossibly sharp and educator of the year. The toughest gym teacher of all time. If you take all of the previous characters of Sean William Scott, specifically Stiffler, they relate very closely to Thortons character. It was fun to watch ole stiffler play a more wholesome reverse role with a few lines like "why do you have to be such a dick all the time." The director must be a genius. The actors' incredible talent combined with the director' magic saved the movie. The script was terrible. The jokes and many of the lines were really terrible. The overall story was decent but scene by scene was inconsistent quality and poorly written sometimes. The under the bed scene was horrid. That scene should have been cut. I was ready to turn off the whole movie, possibly vomit.

Underrated ronchy comedy. Good laugh

[burnzyburns · 9/10 · 17 April 2021]

A good quick laugh all starts with Mr. Woodcock. I've always enjoyed this movie and I've found it funny so give it a chance if you're looking for a simple laugh/funny movie.

It stars Sean William Scott, Billy Bob, Amy Poehler, Susan Sarandon and Ethan Suplee. William Scott gives his best attempt to seemingly escape his "Stifler" mold and he does a half good job with playing main character John Farley. Billy Bob, you can say, acts as himself, but I was never annoyed by his character at any point during the movie. Amy Poehler may be the funniest actor in the whole movie. She's outstanding as Johns agent and laugh out loud funny. Although not at their best, Sarandon and Suplee fit comfortably in their roles.

The plot of the movie is a bit dark but I thought the script was clever and it's comical if you pay attention to the little quick jokes that are told subtly throughout the course of the film.

I would classify Mr. Woodcock as a sort-of dark comedy but not overly crude or vulgar. I personally find this movie funny and with its short run time, it's easy to watch. Give it a go.

Awful movie and VERY misleading preview

[wgeddings · 1/10 · 4 May 2008]

I enjoy watching the stars of this movie in their other projects so I really wanted to like this movie. I especially liked Billy Bob Thornton in "School for Scoundrels" so hoped this was a lot of more of similar humor as 2 "enemies" try to one up each other. I believed that due to the previews which play up the humor and conflict between the two characters.

Wow, the actual movie is sadly different. The slapstick humor from the previews is noticeably missing and instead there are only a few laughs. Most of those come from Amy Poehler or Ethan Suplee. John Farley (Sean William Scott) just comes across as mean and unlikeable. Jasper Woodcock (Thornton) is dry and unfunny and through various scenes appears to be a person deserving pity almost. Beverly Farley (Susan Sarandon) is similarly sad as her tale unfolds. Rather than the light hearted slapstick comedy I was expecting, I got more of a dark comedy such as War of the Roses. This did not work even as well as that movie, which I also disliked.

To have such a great cast, it is just really sad that this was the movie was they made. I am happy that I did not see it in the theater so I did not lose nearly as much money. This is definitely one I recommend people pass by, or better yet, watch the previews and imagine what you think the movie was. I wish I could do that.

Funny and well-made comedy...

[dwpollar · 7/10 · 2 August 2011]

1st watched 7/30/2011 – 7 out of 10 (Dir-Craig Gillespie): Funny and well-made comedy about an over-bearing gym teacher who affects an overweight youngster in a negative way, as well as most of the other students in the class. The youngster grows up and becomes an author of a kind of self-help book about forgetting your painful past, returns home to receive a local award, and finds out his mom is dating the gym teacher(his painful past). This is the setup for what becomes the un-doing of the adult, played by Seann William Scott, as he learns that he can't handle the idea of his mom, played by Susan Sarandon, being with Mr. Woodcock. Ironically, Woodcock – played by Billy Bob Thornton – is also getting an award on the same night for educator of the year. The primary stars hold their own and are funny when they need to be, but otherwise just let the script and the premise create the jokes. The director does a good job of keeping the laughs coming even when you think the movie is going to turn sappy near the end. No real changes occur in the characters – they just kind of eventually learn to accept one another, avoiding the we-all-learned-something mentality of most movies of this kind. Overall, this is a well-scripted, not overdone, but funny movie that didn't have to have a big name comedy star to make it work(or maybe that's why it worked?).

Weep, all ye who watch this...

[bollekeceuninx · 1/10 · 9 March 2013]

What started out as a mildly entertaining comedy version of "The Count of Monte Cristo" (you know : wronged man exacts revenge upon the body of his enemy, where you find yourself rooting for the former pupil of an unbelievably cruel gym teacher, to finally get the better of his Nemesis, actually ends with the morally ambiguous (to say the least) finale, which states that it is actually alright for teachers to bully, humiliate, hit, and generally terrorize children. Well done, Mr. producer. Instead of the pretty damaged youth getting the upper hand on the man that virtually ruined him for life, we get this cheesy "moral" of "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." Great. Now that we've all had that epiphany, there's nothing that stands in the way of us making life for our children completely unbearable anymore. It actually feels like the jocks from school made this movie to justify themselves...

Good Time

[aheaven2005 · 7/10 · 18 December 2021]

Despite most of the times being exagerrated, Mr. Woodcock still offer a lot of great moments. As usual, Billy Bob Thornton is solid in the bad guy character while Sean Williams Scott plays a good counter act. A good time overall.

A Movie for idiots

[agusto-1 · 4/10 · 20 November 2007]

You could call Mr. Woodcock the latest version of The Billy Bob Thornton Movie. You know, that movie where he plays ornery elder to assorted subordinates, each insult or physical assault a sign of his arrogance and superiority, even as he's waiting to be revealed as a decent guy who only needs to be appreciated. He is, of course, always smarter and faster than all his opponents. Whether you see him as the bully of your own childhood or the payback that bully so richly deserves, you tend not to see the Billy Bob Thornton character as you.

In the new version of the BBTM, Thornton plays a gym teacher with a tedious name, introduced as he's pummeling little boys with basketballs, tormenting the ones who are overweight, stutter, or have asthma, infusing all of them with lifelong insecurities and nightmares. Johnny, a cute, freckle-faced boy, described by Woodcock as "fat and gelatinous," grows up to be Seann William Scott. In so doing, he appears to have escaped his fellow victims' pattern. In fact, John has written a best-selling self-help book, Letting Go, all about forgetting the past in order to move on.

Dark comedy works on several levels..

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 5 May 2008]

A message comedy that has it's darker moments. Billy Bob Thornton heads the well-cast ensemble, as a cold-as-ice gym teacher. His harsh methods for building men are way off base, and do more harm than good. The interesting thing is that he actually believes his outlandish techniques work. Of course they do not and a successful Sean William Scott returns to challenge Mr. Woodcock's pending marriage to of all people, Sean's Mother. All this tension leads to dark comedy, and quite a bit of enlightenment for both combatants, as they realize neither of their methods is perfect. While others have criticized BBT for living in a comfort zone with these abrasive characters he plays, I would point out that he portrays them extremely well. "Mr. Woodcock" is a good evenings entertainment. - MERK

Such an evil teacher

[jing-14 · 1/10 · 24 January 2008]

go out and watched this movie at weekend. but feel awful the whole day. it ruined my whole weekend.

I know American movies suppose to be a happy ending. but this movie is totally political wrong.

Mr. Woodcock, beating student, offensive words to kids, in stead of teaching but punishing people, is not funny. such an evil teacher should not have a happy ending. he should end up into prison. feel bad after watching this movie.

really really don't understand why such a movie could be public. where are the parents? Anybody have the same feeling with me?