Watch Mr. Woodcock For Free

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Even with a great cast ( ie. Billy Bob and Susan) the writing is so bad that this is hard to endure.

Mr. Woodcock (2007): Dir: Craig Gillespie / Cast: Seann William Scott, Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Melissa Sagemiller: Here is a comedy that is all too by-the-book yet it also presents a theme that many viewers will likely relate too. Memories of physical and emotional abuse. That is what the stern character of Mr. Woodcock stands for. Seann William Scott plays a successful author whose self help book has landed him a top prize in his home town. Problem is that his mother is engaged to his abusive gym teacher Mr. Woodcock. Predictable with Scott attempting to sabotage the relationship thus heading to a corny redemptive ending. The two leads pull through the weak script with Scott totally back treading anything he stood for in his book. Billy Bob Thornton as Woodcock is the symbol of our childhood fears. We know that these two will be forced to call a truce. Directed by Craig Gillespie with supporting roles that are a total waste. Susan Sarandon as Scott's mother is totally cardboard. She will give the lecture near the conclusion but someone should have lectured her on the role. Amy Poehler as Scott's manager is underused. Melissa Sagemiller plays Scott's love interest and she's more or less a prop. Well made comedy with a message of past pain that is evident as we all muster up images of a Mr. Woodcock from somewhere. Score: 6 / 10

I actually didn't think Mr. Woodcock did have a lot to start with, including its cheesy pun of a name. Its simplistic plot and memorable actors could have made it into a rather nice movie but it is oh-so empty. It is about John Farley who was bullied by his P.E teacher, played by Billy Bob Thornton and his judging eye brows. He grew up to be successful writer about self-improvement but returns to his hometown and learns that his mother is dating Woodcock(pff) and will marry this nemesis of his. Although at first he doesn't look like he remembers his once fat student, the thing soon escalates between them. And nothing actually happens! There are no comedic scenes to speak of, only some weird situations one after another, which hardly makes anyone laugh. The grudge Farley holds against Woodcock is understandable, scenes of him abusing the poor kids are shown but this leads to no scenes at all. It is understandable that he doesn't wan this man, who has made his life hell, but the story never takes itself seriously enough to show that as a problem. You know they will make up somehow and expect some fun in the middle but, no, nothing comes. Skip this one.

It has a great cast featuring Billy Bob Thornton in the title role of Jasper Woodcock, a physical education teacher, in Forest Meadow, Nebraska. He is dating the mother of a self-help author played by Susan Sarandon. I forget who plays the son but really Sarandon and Thornton steal the scenes away. Jasper Woodcock is pretty much like his surname and can be cruel to his students to teach them a lesson. Well when one of his graduate students returns to town for an award, he is shocked or horrified at the idea of him becoming his stepfather. I have to say that the cast is superb featuring small roles by Melissa Leo as Woodcock's ex-wife, Bill Macy as his father, Ethan Suplee as a fellow classmate from school of his, etc. Of course, I can't forget Amy Poehler who steals the scenes as an over the top book agent. Well, the film has plenty of humorous moments to mention. It's done quite effectively and timely. There's not that much stupidity in this film comedy as in others. It's a fine wild ride of laughter and seriousness but more laughter.