Thursday, September 20, 2007


Sep. 20, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune News Service delivered by Newstex) -- A weekly entertainment review -- anything from books and video games to movies and music.
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WHO'S IN IT: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon
RATED: PG-13
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: When John Farley's (Scott) new book turns into a best-seller, he is invited to his hometown in Nebraska to be presented the Corn Cob Key. But when John arrives, he learns that his mom (Sarandon) is dating Mr. Woodcock (Thornton), the gym teacher who made his childhood miserable. Once John realizes that Jasper Woodcock hasn't changed, he does everything he can to end the relationship. The film follows the hilariously grueling battle between the two men in Ms. Farley's life as John and Woodcock fight for her attention.
WHAT'S GOOD: The actors in this film fit their parts perfectly. Scott's cute nerd/underdog appearance, Sarandon's sweet, motherly air and Thornton's dryness truly bring their characters to life and add loads of humor to the film. The setting embodies the hokey, small Nebraska town much like the one in 'Napoleon Dynamite.' It is apparent that director Craig Gillespie paid close attention to detail because the precisely perfect cinematography makes the film even more enjoyable.
WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD: The rating. The humor in 'Mr. Woodcock' was definitely written with an older audience in mind, filled with enough sexual innuendos and content to make viewers blush, plus lots of crude language. This movie could qualify for an R.
BOTTOM LINE: If you enjoy crude humor and good, American competition, then see 'Mr. Woodcock.' This film had the comedy value of a Ben Stiller movie, but the directing remains artsy and professional. Get ready to laugh at pain and root for the underdog as Seann William Scott and Billy Bob Thornton duke it out for mommy's heart.
GRADE: A-
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Alexandra Esposito is a senior at a Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kan.
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(c) 2007, The Kansas City Star.
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