By Hannah Gill
For most, middle school gym class served as a mere extension of recess – an hour filled with non-regulation kickball, dodge ball, and any other game one could find the equipment to play.
There were, however, the few gym teachers who were strict in providing an actual physical education. In the case of “Mr. Woodcock,” that education was not only physical, but painful, humiliating, and arguably abusive.
In the new comedy, “Mr. Woodcock,” Seann William Scott stars as John Farley, a successful self-help author who overcame his days of gym class abuse as the hefty object of Mr. Woodcock’s (Billy Bob Thornton) ridicule.
After 13 years of trying to forget his past, Farley finds it kicking him in the face, literally and figuratively, when he goes home to find his mom (Susan Sarandon) engaged to Mr.. Woodcock. Facing memories of push-ups and rhetorical questions, Farley struggles to let go of the past.
However, Farley quickly devotes all of his attention to outing Mr. Woodcock on all his years of abuse. Engrossed in a battle for strength, approval, and at one point a corn-eating contest, Farley and Mr. Woodcock establish a relationship reminiscent of Greg Brynes and Gaylord Focker of “Meet the Parents.”
Seann William Scott made a bold but refreshing leap from “American Pie” to this sensitive character. Who would have thought the Stifler could be such a softy? The performances here are all of surprising caliber. Billy Bob Thornton has played his fair share of “weird guy” roles in recent movies. He gives a convincing portrayal of the demeaning Mr.. Woodcock, whose solution to any little boys’ shortcomings is “take a lap,” followed by a bit of target practice.
Despite the exceptional acting, the humor is short and sporadic. Not many of the scenes can muster a laugh-out-loud response, save for perhaps John’s flashbacks to gym class in his socks and underwear, and Mr. Woodcock’s cringing references to his name.
Ten years ago, this film might have passed for theater-worthy, but fresh characters and knee-slapping scripts have made stiff competition for cookie-cutter comedies. Unfortunately for “Mr. Woodcock,” the “that’s what she said” comments can only take you so far.
