Hall Pass

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Hall Pass. Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly. Written by Pete Jones, Kevin Barnett & The Farrelly Brothers.

Review #104

MPAA Rating: R for crude and sexual humor throughout, language, some graphic nudity and drug use.

Runtime: 105 min

Cast

Owen Wilson - Rick

Jason Sudeikis - Fred

Jenna Fischer - Maggie

Christina Applegate - Grace

Nicky Whelan - Leigh

Richard Jenkins - Coakley

Stephen Merchant - Gary

Larry Joe Campbell - Hog-Head

J.B. Smoove - Flats

Joy Behar - Dr. Lucy

The Farrelly Bros. became a household name in the mid 90's with back to back to back comedy hits. Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin and There's Something About Mary. Then for some inexplicable reason their comedic powers began to fail them and their next round of films were not only flops at the box office, they were panned by critics and rightfully so. So here we are in 2011 and Hall Pass has come to grace us with another attempt by the brothers to recapture their comic prowess of the 90's.

Did they succeed? Kind of.

Sensing that their marriages are losing their fire. Maggie and Grace give their husbands a hall pass which gives them a week off from marriage to do whatever their little hearts desire. Rick is unwilling and hesitant to participate at first but after some coaxing from Fred, they're both on board and go for it. What they realize as the week goes by changes their view on their lives with their wives forever.

This film wasn't a successful return to the Farrelly Brothers universe, but it was closer than they've been in quite a while. The main difference between this latest entry and the others was that Hall Pass has a lot more heart to it. This film has a life lesson attached to it's yuk's and chuckles. Surprisingly it worked. What didn't work too well was the comedy. In spurts you get some pretty good laughs but they are few and far between to sustain and hour and forty five minutes.

Owen Wilson was miscast here. He's too schlubby and stiff here. Jason Sudeikis was admirable and quite slick with his timing. His problem here is he's playing a character type that has been seen and done much better before him. The real disappointment here is the use or lack of Richard Jenkins character Coakley. This guy was a riot and he gets a weak intro at the beginning and a small dose at the end. His character was meant to be supporting but it was implied that he was an important member of the cast. That's too bad because he was the coolest and funniest part of the movie. His dialogue was the sharpest, funniest and delivered with just the right amount of silliness and punch to send you over the chair.

That's the biggest problem with this film. The film plays it safe. It wanted to take you over the edge and instead it hit the brakes on the car just before flying off the cliff. To add insult to injury, you see actual proof of their "taking risks" intentions only to flop afterwards.

LAME!

On the 5 star scale. Hall Pass gets 2 stars with a "Netflix It" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Adjustment Bureau.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"