Follow @screenit

"MR. WOODCOCK" (2007) (Billy Bob Thornton, Sean William Scott) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Mild *Heavy Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Minor None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Minor Mild Moderate *Moderate QUICK TAKE: Comedy: A self-help author tries to break up his mom's relationship with her new boyfriend when he learns that man is his former P.E. coach who habitually belittled him and other boys in class years ago. PLOT: Thirteen years after getting out of school where his P.E. teacher, Jasper Woodcock (BILLY BOB THORNTON), constantly belittled him and the other boys, John Farley (SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT) is a successful author whose self-help book, "Letting Go: How to Get Past Your Past" is based on finally getting over the trauma Woodcock created for him. Now traveling about the country with his manager/publicist, Maggie (AMY POEHLER), John decides to take a break and visit his long-widowed mother, Beverly (SUSAN SARANDON), in his hometown of Forest Meadow, Nebraska. There, he's surprised to hear that she's been dating a guy for five months, but is then horrified when he learns that it's Mr. Woodcock. The coach doesn't remember John, but misses nary a beat in returning to form by picking up where he left off in belittling him. Thus, and despite former classmate turned teacher Tracy (MELISSA SAGEMILLER) showing some interest in him, John focuses on getting even with his former coach. With the help of fellow former student and Woodcock sufferer, Needleman (ETHAN SUPLEE), John sets out to derail his mom's relationship with his childhood tormentor. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast, or are looking for a goofy and/or mean-spirited comedy, they might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For crude and sexual content, thematic material, language and a mild drug reference. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: BILLY BOB THORNTON plays a sardonic P.E. coach who constantly belittles his students, particularly if they have some sort of physical condition (be that being overweight, having asthma, or stuttering, etc.). He's now dating Beverly (with whom he has sex) and then picks up where he left off with John when he learns he's her son. He uses profanity. SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT plays his former student who turned Mr. Woodcock's behavior toward him into fodder for a self-help book. But when he learns that his mom is now dating his former nemesis, he can't follow his own advice and instead tries to break up the relationship. He uses profanity, some of it briefly strong. SUSAN SARANDON plays his mom who's finally happy that she's found love with Mr. Woodcock (with whom she has sex), but becomes upset about how the two men act toward each other. AMY POEHLER plays his manager and/or publicist who's easily upset when he doesn't follow through on the book promo tour. She uses profanity, drinks (and admits to being an alcoholic), and briefly smokes. MELISSA SAGEMILLER plays John's former classmate turned teacher with whom he goes out on a date. ETHAN SUPLEE plays John's former classmate and fellow sufferer from Mr. Woodcock who now works at a pizza place and assists John in trying to find their former coach. He briefly talks sexually about Beverly. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Various instances of sexually related dialogue are present, while a comedy-based sexual encounter takes place on top of a bed under which the woman's adult son is hiding (with graphic bed bending with each thrust, and related sounds). Other sexually related humor is present. Two characters wrestle with some hard blows and other physical contact occurring, but it's all played for comedy, which also pertains to other physical contact and slapstick style material. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, and some of the behavior may be enticing for some kids to imitate. Crude humor (most of it verbally based) is present, as is some smoking, more drinking (with one character having a drinking problem), and a brief drug reference. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE At his book signing, a woman tells John that her husband wouldn't drink so much if not for what his uncle did to him, prompting Maggie to remark callously that they all drink for different reasons. We see Maggie and John with drinks. Mr. Woodcock and Beverly have drinks. We see beer in Beverly's fridge. John asks Tracy if she wants to get a drink, but she says she can't. Mr. Woodcock has a beer, and when John returns from the store, Mr. Woodcock has another. John orders a pitcher of beer while upset. Maggie and others drink in a bar. Holding a mini-bottle of liquor on a plane, Maggie asks for a real bottle, saying that she's an alcoholic, not a Barbie Doll. Mr. Woodcock's ex-wife has a drink and offers one to John who declines that. A former student talks of being found with a brick of marijuana in his locker, and that after serving time in juvi, he's been mostly drug free ever since. When John starts badmouthing Mr. Woodcock at an awards ceremony, the master of ceremonies states that somebody put something into the punch again. Maggie tells John to point her to the nearest liquor store. BLOOD/GORE Beverly asks if Mr. Woodcock remembers John as his former student, prompting Mr. Woodcock to ask, "You're not the kid who got the squirts on the balance beam?" Maggie comments that Oprah farts on a book and it sells a million copies. We hear the sound of John urinating, and then see him dip Mr. Woodcock's coaching whistle down into the un-flushed toilet water (and then hanging it back up). After John says he isn't going to shower after working out, Mr. Woodcock tells him, "Maybe you don't mind smelling like a nut sac." John has a minor abrasion on his cheek from falling on a moving treadmill belt. We see Needleman's younger brother with a black eye, and then a video that Needleman made where a chair is thrown and hits the brother on the head, knocking him down (all designed to make it look like Mr. Woodcock threw the chair). About John wanting to break and enter into Mr. Woodcock's house, Needleman says that he hasn't "sh*t" his pants since the balance beam in school. Mr. Woodcock says he's going to give John an "ass whooping" until John "sh*ts" himself. Maggie arrives at Beverly's house and tells John she has to pee. She leaves the room and we partially hear her urinating in the bathroom. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE All of the following is played for comedy. Mr. Woodcock doesn't treat his male P.E. students nicely or with respect. Instead, he belittles their physical abilities and/or conditions, including being overweight (making young John try to do a pull-up in just his underwear in front of the class and then telling him "You're a disgrace to fat, gelatinous, out of shape little kids around the world"), having asthma (telling the kid, who he calls wheezy, that he can still hear him), stuttering, etc. He also says that basketballs are round sacs of air, just like many of them, and calls them ladies, while telling an orphan that they all know his parents died and to give that a rest. When Needleman and others hear from John that Mr. Woodcock is dating his mom, they use various slang sexual terms to ask about that, including that Mr. Woodcock is "doing/stuffing/pounding/porking/giving it to" his mom (with some kids in the restaurant repeating the term "porking"). We see Mr. Woodcock with his foot on the back of a young P.E. student he's ordered to do push-ups. John tells his mom that Mr. Woodcock touched him in the past, but then admits that he made that up. After learning that his mom is engaged to Mr. Woodcock, John vows to break them up, with Needleman agreeing to assist him with that quest. We hear the sound of John urinating, and then see him dip Mr. Woodcock's coaching whistle down into the un-flushed toilet water (and then hanging it back up). Mr. Woodcock's father is a cantankerous old man who belittles his son and John, using the terms "fairy," "Nancy," "retard" and "fruitcake" about one or both men. He also says that water sports are for girls and sodomites. John learns that Mr. Woodcock also teaches water aerobics to seniors, but belittles and pushes them just as much as the boys in his P.E. class. He even takes an unresponsive guy in a wheelchair and, after asking if he's "crippled and deaf," dumps him into the water (knowing he can swim, as it turns out). Competing against John at a carnival game, Mr. Woodcock says, "I've seen better shooting at the Special Olympics." After finally beating Mr. Woodcock at something, John dances and prances about, including doing some pelvic thrusting, all while saying, "This is my house, bitch." Seeing a woman come out of Mr. Woodcock's house, Needleman and John think he's cheating on Beverly (but this turns out not to be the case). When told about Beverly, Woodcock's ex-wife refers to her as a "big t*ttied blonde tramp." John and Needleman sneak into Mr. Woodcock's house. Instead of accepting his award graciously, John uses the opportunity to try to belittle Mr. Woodcock in front of an audience, including referring to him "man whoring" and a woman earlier seen coming out of his house as being a "whore" (she's a real estate agent). Mr. Woodcock tells John, "I don't know what I'm going to enjoy more, kicking your ass or nailing your mother." Beverly overhears that and is mad and he later apologizes for using that term. Maggie makes fun of John's hometown, referring to it as the "dinky little sh*t-hole you call home," sarcastically asks if they have indoor plumbing, says, "You hicks just crack me up" and then says, "Let's put the hillbilly drama on hold." FRIGHTENING SCENES John jumps into a pool to "save" an old man who Mr. Woodcock has dumped from his wheelchair into the water. But the man can swim and he ends up striking or head-butting John backwards, knocking him out and sending him sinking in the water (played for comedy). GUNS/WEAPONS We see a ceremonial sword hanging on Mr. Woodcock's wall. Mr. Woodcock and John fire water guns during a carnival game. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the f*ck?" "This F-ing fiasco" (said just like that), "Sh*t-hole," "Holy sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Everything's going to sh*t," "I haven't sh*t my pants since the balance beam," "Bullsh*t" (coughed out by John), "Whoop-dee-do, who gives a sh*t?" "You disrespectful little sh*t," "Ass-whooping until you sh*t yourself," "Dinky little sh*t-hole you call home," "I don't give a sh*t," "Cocky little sh*t," "Quit whining, you p*ssy," "Probably good for the old hip flexor to take a night off" (from sex), "God, you must get so laid," "I'm known for my meat" (double entendre), "D*ck-head," "My legs are as useless as your little p*cker," "Big-t*ttied blonde tramp," "He's a huge d*ck," "Keep your hands off your neighbor's cob" (double entendre), "All the man whoring he did," "That blonde whore," "I don't know what I'm going to enjoy more, kicking your ass or nailing your mother," "You p*ssy," "You're just a p*ssy with a whistle," "You showed some sac out there," "It's not healthy being a d*ck all of the time," "Take a lap," "Ladies" (boys), "Wheezy" (for a boy with asthma), "You're a disgrace to fat, gelatinous, out of shape little kids around the world," "Cornival" (for a corn-themed carnival), "Corn-gratulations," "You're not the kid who got the squirts on the balance beam," "Losers," "Hell yeah," "Shut up," "Shut your trap," "When you make a blame sandwich, you have to be prepared to eat it yourself," "Fat John," "No way," "Screw-up," "I don't do sorry," "Sorry is for criminals and screw-ups," "Little porker," "My ass," "No way in hell," "That sucks," "Get your ass on that plane," "What the hell?" "Maybe you don't mind smelling like a nut sac," "You old sidewinder," "You damn hippie," "You fat son of a bitch," "Hell-cat," "You're late, you fairy," "How the hell do you think I'm doing?" "Don't have a hissy-fit, you Nancy," "Little retard," "Water sports are for girls and sodomites," "You want a shoe up your ass?" "(You) Fruitcake," "Are you crippled and deaf?" "Are you insane?" "Jackass," "I'm an alcoholic not a Barbie doll," "I've seen better shooting at the Special Olympics," "Old man," "This is my house, bitch" (said to another man), "Chick," "That son of a bitch," "It's crap," "Are you guys out of your minds?" "The biggest asshole on the planet," "You moron," "You hicks just crack me up," "Let's put the hillbilly drama on hold," "I screwed up," "Fat ass" and "Emotional cripple." Mr. Woodcock throws a basketball to knock down one kid, and then does the same moments later (while the kid is running laps, and then gets him with a ricochet off a wall with another). We see a flashback to Mr. Woodcock checking his male P.E. students to see if they're wearing their athletic cups. He takes a plastic baseball bat and whacks one in the crotch (with no harm, as the boy pulls out and shows his cup), followed by the same to John (but we don't see that impact). We see Mr. Woodcock with his foot on the back of a young P.E. student he's ordered to do push-ups. We see a flashback to Mr. Woodcock using young John as an example of wrestling moves. During that, Mr. Woodcock trips, throws, tosses and slams the young boy around, quite hard (all played for comedy). We hear the sound of John urinating, and then see him dip Mr. Woodcock's coaching whistle down into the un-flushed toilet water (and then hanging it back up). A barber takes out a small patch of hair on John's head. Needleman has a tattoo on his arm. We see Needleman's younger brother with a black eye, and then a video that Needleman made where a chair is thrown and hits the brother on the head, knocking him down (all designed to make it look like Mr. Woodcock threw the chair). Mr. Woodcock and John compete with others in a corn on the cob-eating contest. After finally beating Mr. Woodcock at something, John dances and prances about, including doing some pelvic thrusting, all while saying, "This is my house, bitch." We see miscellaneous tattoos on a former student. To get him back in the zone for doing a TV interview, Maggie slaps John across the face. To try to settle matters between them, Mr. Woodcock and John agree to wrestle (as in high school wrestling). At first, Mr. Woodcock has the advantage, knocking John to the mat and then kicking him in the face. The two then struggle on the mat, grabbing and pushing on each other's face. More contact continues, including John hitting Mr. Woodcock across the back with a chair, diving down onto his body on the mat (like a professional wrestler), and then repeatedly punches him on the chest. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A tiny bit of playfully done, suspenseful music is heard in a few scenes. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word (another is used as "F-ing"), 16 "s" words, 11 slang terms for sex (including "doing," "stuffing," "pounding," "porking," "laid," "giving it to," "plowing" and "nailing"), 5 using female genitals ("p*ssy" and "trim"), 4 using male ones ("d*ck" and "p*cker"), 4 for breasts (variations of "t*t"), 13 asses (5 used with "hole"), 6 hells, 4 damns, 3 S.O.B.s, 2 craps, 4 uses of "Oh my God," 2 each of "God" and "Jesus" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "For Christ's sakes," "Jesus Christ," "My God," "Oh God," "Oh my Lord" and "Swear to God." SEX/NUDITY We see young John in just his underwear as Mr. Woodcock makes him try to do pull-ups in front of the P.E. class. We see the motion of Mr. Woodcock putting his hand somewhere up Beverly's leg under a table (along with her surprised but happy reaction). With John having just arrived in town, Mr. Woodcock tells him he can have Beverly for one night, adding that it's probably good for the old hip flexor to take a night off. The next morning, however, John catches Mr. Woodcock coming down the stairs in Beverly's house. When Needleman and others hear from John that Mr. Woodcock is dating his mom, they use various slang sexual terms to ask about that, including that Mr. Woodcock is "doing/stuffing/pounding/porking/giving it to" his mom (with some kids in the restaurant repeating the term "porking"). About John being an author, Needleman then tells him, "God, you must get so laid." About his cooking, Mr. Woodcock says, "I'm known for my meat" (a double entendre). John returns home and hears sounds from Beverly that seem sexual, but he then sees that she's crying (from joy). Needleman mentions that Mr. Woodcock is still "plowing your mom." We see Maggie in a bar where a guy nuzzles on her neck and she then puts a lime wedge in her cleavage for him to retrieve from there (all as she talks to John on the phone). While in his own bed, John hears Mr. Woodcock and Beverly frolicking in another room, including talk of one of them being a tickle machine. Mr. Woodcock passionately kisses Beverly just to goad John. After John says he isn't going to shower after working out, Mr. Woodcock tells him, "Maybe you don't mind smelling like a nut sac." A barber asks Mr. Woodcock about his "hell-cat" (Beverly), with Mr. Woodcock saying she keeps him young, and one guy replies, "Yeah, in the sack." That's followed by a comment about John needing a trim (haircut), and then mockingly saying he doubts John knows about "trim" (slang for female genitalia). Mr. Woodcock's wheelchair bound, cantankerous father tells John that his legs "are as useless as your little p*cker." We see an old man giving John CPR, with Mr. Woodcock jokingly asking if he got any tongue, with the man saying no, but that he does get better suction without his dentures. We hear that Mr. Woodcock has an ex-wife, and she talks to John of the infidelity, saying it happened over and over again. She adds that the sex was amazing, and that Mr. Woodcock knew how to use what the Lord gave him. She adds that it was so pleasurable that she blacked out and even spoke Portuguese despite not knowing that language. When told about Beverly, that woman refers to her as a "big t*ttied blonde tramp." A video accidentally plays and shows Needleman talking about Beverly being "hot," followed by other sexual talk (including about her "t*tties") and Needleman then acting as if he's shaking his head back and forth between her imaginary breasts (with the accompanying, flesh-smacking sound). Mr. Woodcock playfully pinches Beverly on her clothed butt at a carnival. About being beaten at carnival games, Mr. Woodcock tells John, You must like getting spanked Farley, I guess it runs in the family." Mr. Woodcock and John compete with others in a corn on the cob-eating contest. During that, the judge says (in a double entendre), "Keep your hand off your neighbor's cob." After finally beating Mr. Woodcock at something, John dances and prances about, including doing some pelvic thrusting, all while saying, "This is my house, bitch." John and Needleman sneak into Mr. Woodcock's house and discover a leopard print thong on the floor (that one of them holds up). They then see that Mr. Woodcock is returning, so Needleman runs away, leaving John to hide under the bed. He then hears his mom there with Mr. Woodcock, and then sees Mr. Woodcock's pants drop down around his ankles as he hears his mom playfully call Mr. Woodcock a "bad boy." He then hides there in disgust as he hears his mom having sex with Mr. Woodcock, with the box springs bending down and nearly touching him on the floor with each thrust (and Beverly says things such as "Yes, yes" and speaks in Portuguese -- translated as something about him being as strong as a horse or something like that -- all as a referenced joke about Mr. Woodcock's ex-wife earlier commenting on the same regarding her reaction to having an orgasm). After they're done and leave, Needleman comes out of the closet with his video camera (having taped that sexual encounter), saying that was way better than anything on the Internet. Instead of accepting his award graciously, John uses the opportunity to try to belittle Mr. Woodcock in front of an audience, including referring to him "man whoring" on his ex-wife. That woman then stands up and says she couldn't help it as she was the sex addict, and then adds that she still is. John ignores that and then accuses a woman earlier seen coming out of Mr. Woodcock's house as being a "whore" (but she's just his real estate agent). He then holds up the previously seen leopard print thong underwear, but Mr. Woodcock takes and gives them to Beverly, saying they're hers. Mr. Woodcock tells John, "I don't know what I'm going to enjoy more, kicking your ass or nailing your mother." Beverly overhears that and is mad and he later apologizes for using that term. About a show Maggie has booked John on, she tells him, "When you hear this, you're gonna wanna take me right here." We see miscellaneous cleavage. Mr. Woodcock accuses John of being someone who can't let go of his momma's "t*t." Beverly shows some cleavage. SMOKING Maggie and Mr. Woodcock's ex-wife each smoke at least once. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Mr. Woodcock tells a student that they all know the boy's parents died and to give that a rest. At his book signing, a woman tells John that her husband wouldn't drink so much if not for what his uncle did to him (presumably an incest reference). We hear that John's dad is dead (from long ago). Much later, Beverly complains that young John always sabotaged her attempts at dating others following her husband's death. We hear that Mr. Woodcock has an ex-wife, and she talks to John of the infidelity, saying it happened over and over again. Beverly ends up mad at both her son and Mr. Woodcock for the way they're acting toward each other. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Dealing with and/or coming to terms with one's past. Dealing with bullies (including when they arrive in the form of a teacher). We hear that John's dad is dead (from long ago). Much later, Beverly complains that young John always sabotaged her attempts at dating others following her husband's death. Mr. Woodcock saying that he doesn't "do sorry" and that sorry is for criminals and screw-ups. Mr. Woodcock thinking he's educating kids for life by being tough with them and not cutting them any slack for who and what they are. Various former students state that Mr. Woodcock taught them how to be a man (in a montage), including a transsexual. John realizing that you don't get past your past, but instead you embrace it. VIOLENCE All of the following is played for comedy. Mr. Woodcock throws a basketball to knock down one kid, and then does the same moments later (while the kid is running laps, and then gets him with a ricochet off a wall with another). We see a flashback to Mr. Woodcock checking his male P.E. students to see if they're wearing their athletic cups. He takes a plastic baseball bat and whacks one in the crotch (with no harm, as the boy pulls out and shows his cup), followed by the same to John (but we don't see that impact of him presumably not wearing one). We see a flashback to Mr. Woodcock using young John as an example of wrestling moves. During that, Mr. Woodcock trips, throws, tosses and slams the young boy around, quite hard. Hearing someone inside Beverly's house at night, and not initially realizing it's John, Mr. Woodcock enters his bedroom and repeatedly hits him with a baseball bat. While trying to outdo Mr. Woodcock on an adjacent treadmill, John ends up falling on the speeding belt, bounces off it, and then is shot back into some weights. John jumps into a pool to "save" an old man who Mr. Woodcock has dumped from his wheelchair into the water. But the man can swim and he ends up striking or head-butting John backwards, knocking him out and sending him sinking in the water. We then see another old man giving John CPR. We see Needleman's younger brother with a black eye, and then a video that Needleman made where a chair is thrown and hits the brother on the head, knocking him down (all designed to make it look like Mr. Woodcock threw the chair). Mr. Woodcock pushes John back to a wall while mad at him. To get him back in the zone for doing a TV interview, Maggie slaps John across the face. During an argument, John knocks a beverage from Maggie's hand (purposefully or accidentally isn't clear). To try to settle matters between them, Mr. Woodcock and John agree to wrestle (as in high school wrestling). At first, Mr. Woodcock has the advantage, knocking John to the mat and then kicking him in the face. The two then struggle on the mat, grabbing and pushing on each other's face. More contact continues, including John hitting Mr. Woodcock across the back with a chair, diving down onto his body on the mat (like a professional wrestler), and then repeatedly punches him on the chest on the floor until Mr. Woodcock doesn't move anymore (and John panics, calling the rescue squad, but Mr. Woodcock comes to while riding in the ambulance). John pushes Mr. Woodcock on a hospital type gurney, trying to catch Beverly on a parade float. But with Mr. Woodcock strapped to that gurney, John accidentally hits a pothole in the road, sending the gurney flipping one end over the other, resulting in Mr. Woodcock landing on his face and body on the street. Reviewed September 11, 2007 / Posted September 14, 2007

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2016 Screen It, Inc.