Movie review: ‘Mr. Woodcock’

FloridaGator80
A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

Sometimes it takes just one scene in an OK film to elevate its status. That happened for me with “Mr. Woodcock,” which I thought was a fun, light comedy until a slapstick moment late in the movie made it a film I can eagerly recommend someone else watch. Read the review and you’ll see what scene. Overall, “Mr. Woodcock” is a very good showcase for Billy Bob Thornton and not too shabby work from Seann William Scott. Of course, you’ll have to put up with the overrated and annoying Susan Sarandon, but it’s worth the price to pay to see this one. ** BEWARE the spoiler alert below!

‘Mr. Woodcock’
(2007; 87 minutes; rated PG-13; directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott and Ethan Suplee)

GOING OFF HALF-COCKED ON WOODCOCK

(NOTE: I expanded this review with more opinion and trivia and the updating of links on Feb. 6, 2016. I again expanded it on Jan. 25, 2020. I again expanded it on June 12, 2026.)

It’s simple: “Mr. Woodcock” is hilarious from the beginning with subtle humor that winds its way up to slapstick that will leave you on the floor. It is also Billy Bob Thornton’s film from his first scene to the ending credits even though Seann William Scott does a nice turn in his own right.

Taken as individual scenes, most of the film would be a bit of “I saw that coming,” but the entire body of work builds the comedy so well that you are almost forced to enjoy it. The screenwriter and director do a nice build-up to the climax with just the right situational jokes at just the right time.

A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

Scott plays “John Farley,” who is a self-help guru whose book is a best-seller and he’s being put on national television. However, he puts his life on hold when his mother (Susan Sarandon playing “Beverly Farley”) announces she’s getting married. He gets home and finds that she’s marrying Thornton, who plays grade school gym teacher “Jasper Woodcock.” And, “Mr. Woodcock” isn’t a prime catch in Scott’s world.

Thornton’s character is the nemesis of Scott. “Mr. Woodcock” tormented him in gym class and made fun of him – and just about every other kid (especially the dorks). “Mr. Woodcock” as everyone calls him, appears humorless, superior and lacking anything remotely resembling humanity. The film then follows Scott as he tries to derail the marriage with the help of a less-than-efficient friend and being thwarted at every turn by the hated “Mr. Woodcock.”

Of course, everything thing turns out OK in the end, but it is not the saccharine kind of ending that you might expect. Now, let’s take a look at some of the principal cast:

  • A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

    An Oscar winner and two-time nominee (not for this one), Thornton is just outstanding. He IS a sadistic grade school gym teacher here. He hits kids with balls and verbally harasses them. Thornton must have spent a lot of time with gym teachers to nail this one. Unlike the savagely profane character he plays in “Badder Santa” (that’s the uncut version’s title of that vicious, nasty little film and he earned a Golden Globe nomination for it), Thornton is actually caring about what his students do and certainly loves Sarandon but winds up putting that in jeopardy over Scott. Since winning an Oscar for 1996’s “Sling Blade” (which he won for writing and was nominated for acting), Thornton has received critical acclaim for a career including “Primary Colors,” “Pushing Tin” (click here to read my review) and “Monster’s Ball.” He was also nominated for supporting actor in “A Simple Plan.” Thornton also did solid work in the film version of “Entourage” (click here to read my review).

  • A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

    Scott shows what a younger actor can show on the screen. He is energetic and passionate and perfectly conveys his character’s hatred of Thornton. Scott reaches his peak when he fires his best verbal broadside at Thornton during a town meeting where the teacher is being honored for service to the community. Here’s another scene worth watching a couple of times. In addition to “ Woodcock,” Scott was very funny in “Dude, Where’s My Car?” with the uniquely talentless Ashton Kutcher (who singlehandedly ruined the “Two and a Half Men” franchise), but I liked him best in “Role Models” with the even funnier Paul Rudd (click here to read my review). He is most recognized as “Steve Stifler” in the “American Pie” franchise (click here for my look at film franchises) and was also in absolutely hilarious “Road Trip” (click here to read my review). He was also in the movie version of “The Dukes of Hazzard” (click here to read my review).

  • A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

    Ethan Suplee plays hometown friend “Nedderman” here and he tries to help Scott get the goods on Thornton. From a hilarious raid on Thornton’s house (insert squeaking bed joke here; pun intended) to information about a student “Mr. Woodcock” drove to suicide, Nedderman is unfailingly incompetent and wrong. Suplee is great at being the schlep in this kind of role and has also been in TV’s “My Name is Earl” and diverse films from “American History X” to “The Wolf of Wall Street.” It’s a very underrated performance by an underrated actor.

  • The lone exception in solid performances by the principal cast is the lackluster effort by the very unexceptional Susan Sarandon, who plays … ah, I don’t care and you shouldn’t, either. I’ve never been much of a fan of this overrated actor and she is best known for … ah, again, who cares? I don’t. Now, moving on …
  • A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

    A Golden Globe winner and two-time nominee (not for this one) as well as a Primetime Emmy winner and an astounding 25-time nominee, Amy Poehler plays “Maggie Hoffman,” who is Scott’s anxious agent and plays this one out well. She can’t get him to go on a TV show since he’s tied up with his mother, so she goes to his town. She has a great line where she makes fun of the small size of the miniature liquor bottles used on airliners. The “Saturday Night Live” veteran (where she earned an Emmy win and two nominations) has also been in “Mean Girls” and “Blades of Glory.” You might also recognize her from TV’s critically acclaimed “Parks and Recreation” and this one earned her the Globe win and nominations as well as nine Primetime Emmy nominations.

  • Finally, veteran supporting actor Bill Macy has a small part as Thornton’s father (he’s just credited as “Mr. Woodcock’s Dad”). Macy is great as ever with his piercing aggression and miserable outlook on life. He has also been on TV’s “Maude” (he’s more of a TV actor than in films) and was also in “Analyze This” and “The Jerk.” Macy died at 97 in 2019.

** SPOILER ALERT **

A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

The single best physical comedy scene is not when Scott and Thornton square off in a wrestling match (in which Thornton broke his foot while filming it), but was Scott is pushing him along on a gurney to catch up with Sarandon’s float in a parade. Scott weaves the gurney through the high school’s band and Thornton, still cranky as ever, dishes out criticism to individual band members by name. After Scott catches up to the float, the gurney’s front wheels dig into a pothole and tips Thornton, who’s strapped on the gurney, head-over-heels face-planting into the

A promotional photograph from the movie “Mr. Woodcock.”

pavement. Excellent camera work and this one never fails to entertain (no many how many times you replay it – click here to see it).

** SPOILER ALERT ENDS **

It was disappointing to see that it was reported that a second director (David Dobkin, whose previous directing effort was the even-more hilarious “Wedding Crashers”) was brought in for some re-shoots and that the film you see is not one the director made. Both Thornton and Scott are said to have hated the re-shot result and joined the director with this opinion.

Too bad. I thought it was good and the cast, with the exception of Sarandon, did a solid job. Well, to each his own taste. I’m sure the artists had their reasons and I’m only judging from an entertainment perspective.

“Mr. Woodcock” was the 92nd rated film at the U.S. box office in 2007 with $25.7 million in ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. It ultimately rang up $33 million in sales, according to Wiki. It was ahead of stinkers like “Grindhouse” but also behind poor films such as “Underdog” and “Fred Claus.” The No. 1 film of the year was “Spider-Man 3” with $336.5 million and “Shrek the Third” came in second with $322.7 million. Here are some films from 2007 that I have reviewed:

Assorted cast and film notes (via IMDb.com):

  • Poehler’s middle name is Meredith and one of her nicknames is “Poehlercoaster;” Suplee’s nickname is “Sups;” and Macy’s birth name was Wolf Martin Garber.
  • Directly from IMDb.com: “The Ramona Dynasty Band from Riverside California was featured as the local high school marching band in 2 scenes.”
  • The actor with the best name in the cast is Googy Gress (real name Francis Gress Jr.) and he plays “Earnest Man.” He’s also been in “Apollo 13,” “Liar, Liar” and “Frost/Nixon.”
  • It’s difficult to understand how this film doesn’t have more reports on the com trivia page about it, but click here to see the paltry amount you’ll find …

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