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Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Ethan Suplee ... see more see more... , Melissa Sagemiller , Googy Gress , Kurt Fuller , Scott Adsit

Every junior-high geek's worst nightmare becomes a reality in this comedy. John Farley (Seann William Scott) grew up as a chubby kid with no athletic skills and poor self-esteem, and during his early ... read more read more...teenage years his nemesis was Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton), his junior-high gym teacher, who took a sadistic glee in tormenting John and others like them. Years later, John has slimmed down, come to terms with his self-image, and become a best-selling author, publishing a self-help book on overcoming the specters of the past. John comes home to visit his widowed mother, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), and discovers she has a surprise for him -- she's getting married again, and her new fiancée is none other than Mr. Woodcock. Horrified, John is determined to keep Beverly from walking down the aisle with Woodcock, and along the way finds himself struggling to settle some old scores. Mr. Woodcock also stars Amy Poehler as John's publicist and Ethan Suplee as John's old friend Needleman. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

35% liked it

237,676 ratings

Critics

13% liked it

110 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Release Date: September 14, 2007

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DVD Release Date: January 15, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (10,832)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 11, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    If you're looking for Billy Bob Thornton's worst film, Mr. Woodcock is probably the one. I felt that Mr. Woodcock lacked anything funny or interesting that would make it a memorable comedy. The acting here sucks, and both Sean William Scott and Billy Bob Thornton give lazy perfor... read moremances and are actually quite boring to watch. The laughs are minimal. The film fails on being anything effective in its humor. The jokes feel forced, uninspired and they get old very quick. The acting suffers as well, and Thornton basically plays the same character he's played in previous films. With the exception with a rewrite, Thornton's character in this film is no different than previous characters that he's played. I felt that Mr. Woodcock was a missed opportunity to create a good comedy, and it might have worked if the story didn't really rely on Billy Bob's usual asshole image. Unfortunately the film relies only on that, instead of focusing on other elements which could have improved the film significantly. The film could have been a memorable comedy, and Billy Bob is a funny guy, but the script is too sloppy and unimpressive to really be entertaining. This is one of the weakest comedies starring Billy Bob Thornton, he's the right guy for this type of role, but the film relies too much on his asshole persona and doesn't do anything to really make the film interesting by exploring other ideas with plot.
  • Deano78
    October 9, 2011
    Deano78
    An average comedy with a strong cast line up. Pretty much run of the mill jokes about the son who disapproves of his Mum's new man. It turns out to be the gym instructor who made his life hell at school. Has a few funny moments but not nearly enough of them, especially for the ta... read morelented line up!
  • DreamExtractor
    April 4, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    There were funny parts in the movie, but its so dumb and bad its hard to even remotely like this movie.
  • wildaly14
    February 4, 2011
    wildaly14
    Mr. Woodcock just doesn't cut it for me.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 29, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    some funny parts but not that great of a movie. C+
  • ythelastman89
    May 28, 2010
    ythelastman89
    An interesting idea that a lot of nonathletic middle-schooler's can relate to, but it kind've had nowhere to go after the back and forth torture between the characters. Billy Bob Thorton was funny, but it can't save an entire movie. I feel like Seann William Scott was severely mi... read morescast as a repressed teen, it just didn't make sense.
  • fb733768972
    January 14, 2010
    fb733768972
    Severely average! It can be funny at times, but the story overshadows the laughs, because of how bad it is!
  • Redlats
    June 10, 2009
    Redlats
    I don't think much of humour that puts people down. Mind you Billy Bob Thornton plays the sadistic teacher well.
  • phubbs1
    April 6, 2009
    phubbs1
    I liked this...the bottom line, Billy Bob makes it, no question..without him its average. His deadpan, dry, sharp dialog is truely hilarious. The beginning sequence in the gym with his pupils is great stuff. The story and acting is generally average and there are no surprises, if... read more you like Billy Bob its for you, if you dont then stay clear, simple.
  • romy861
    December 26, 2008
    romy861
    Let down by a sappy, unrealistic happy ending, but actually did have some funny bits. Most of it of the "sleeping with your mother" variety, but anyhow... A lot less awful than I was expecting, but I did have the bar pretty low on this one. LOL.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
September 18, 2007
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

A dreary and depressing alleged comedy that takes a talented cast and a promising germ of an idea, and kills it dead.

Claudia Puig
September 14, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

This may be the most laugh-free comedy of the year. Full Review

Matt Zoller Seitz
September 14, 2007
Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Times

Between Mr. Thornton's wry performance and Tami Reiker's nuanced wide-screen photography, you half-expect Woodcock to deliver more than formulaic laughs.

Susan Walker
September 14, 2007
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

This movie makes a much better case study for aspiring entertainment executives than it does a cinematic experience. What it most emphatically is not is a date movie. Full Review

Steven Winn
September 14, 2007
Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle

This film apparently sat around for a few years before being released. It's unlikely to make waves now, but Thornton and Scott do set off a few entertaining ripples. Full Review

Steven Boone
September 14, 2007
Steven Boone, Newark Star-Ledger

Mr. Woodcock is often as juvenile and predictable as its title suggests. Yet, this dark comedy about a self-help author plotting revenge on his sadistic former gym coach gets honest laughs because of ... Full Review

Kyle Smith
September 14, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Thornton's straight-faced growl is consistently funny throughout this mild but effective comedy. Full Review

Jack Mathews
September 14, 2007
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

You can guess how it all ends, but getting there is a repetitious parade of put-downs and smackdowns that suggest you can't go home again. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
September 14, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Child abuse: har-dee-har-har. Full Review

Stephen Farber
September 14, 2007
Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter

Sharp performances enliven this formulaic comedy.

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Mr. Woodcock Trivia

  • In which two movies did Billy Bob Thorton act?  Answer »
  • Who playes the Mother in "Mr Woodcock"  Answer »
  • What does John Farley become in Mr Woodcock ?  Answer »
  • Where is John Farley from in Mr Woodcock ?  Answer »
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