In this film, John Farley, a successful author, decides to return to his hometown and find out something strange. John appears to discover that his mother is about to marry an old high school gym instructor. Things seem really mysterious because this person is a man who made hell high school for generations of students.
Between Mr. Thornton's wry performance and Tami Reiker's nuanced wide-screen photography, you half-expect Woodcock to deliver more than formulaic laughs.
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.
we're stuck with Amy Poehler telling us she's an alcoholic and an unaware Susan Sarandon watching two men act like idiots, which unfortunately isn't funny at all.
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.
While two novice screenwriters are officially credited with the script, the movie lurches around like something assembled by committee.
Sly Fox
January 10, 2008
Apparently, Billy Bob Thornton has embraced the idea of appealing to the lowest possible common denominator. How else can you explain his presence in another bad taste bottom-feeder which might have been better titled Bad Gym Teacher, ala Bad Santa?
