Hall Pass: Movie Review Feb 24, 2011 - By Krystal Clark

The Farrelly brothers are back with their latest collaboration Hall Pass. The film stars Owen Wilson, who’s once again headlining a male-driven comedy that features its fair share of juvenile antics. Going into this you might think that you’re in for a treat. The combination of Wilson and the Farrellys should yield amazing results, but unfortunately it doesn’t. Hall Pass leaves nothing to the imagination and a lot to be desired. Check out the review…

The Players:

Directors: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly

Screenwriters: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Pete Jones, Kevin Barnett

Cast: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate, Richard Jenkins, Alexandra Daddario, Stephen Merchant, Nicky Whelan, Derek Waters, J.B. Smoove, Alyssa Milano, Vanessa Angel, Tyler Hoechlin, Kristin Carey

Cinematography By: Matthew F. Leonetti

The Plot:

Two friends Rick (Wilson) and Fred (Sudeikis) get the opportunity of a lifetime when their wives (Fischer and Applegate) give them one week off from marriage. It’s called a “hall pass” and it allows them to date or sleep with whoever they want with no consequences. The movie’s premise begs the question: when you take a dog off its leash will it run away or stay home?

The Good:

Jason Sudeikis: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Sudeikis is one of if not the funniest comedian on “Saturday Night Live” right now. He’s greatly underused on that show, so it’s nice to see him take front and center in a feature film. Even though Wilson is a vet when it comes to these types of comedies, he wasn’t the strongest performer. Sudeikis drove home most of the best jokes, and his timing and natural comedic ability made him one to watch.

The Bad:

Dated Comedy: Hall Pass feels like it should have come out around the same time as There’s Something About Mary, but even then it probably wouldn’t deliver. It has great actors, a hilarious but interesting premise, and it does nothing with them. Everyone and everything comes across as tired and dated.

The Women: Fischer and Applegate were completely wasted in this film. All of the “funny” stuff was given to their male counterparts and they were left to be the more disciplined and boring characters. It’s unfortunate considering the background that the women have.

Was There Supposed to Be A Lesson?: In some comedies, no matter how gross or outlandish, they try to teach you something at the end. In the case of Hall Pass, it attempts that but fails miserably. At the end, you leave the theater questioning what the hell happened.  Neither one of the couples come out of their situation squeaky clean but you’re not sure who’s better or worse for it. It’s strange.

Overall:

Hall Pass should be passed on this weekend. It’s not the Farrelly’s best, it’s not Owen Wilson’s best, and Fischer and Applegate are completely wasted.

Rating: 4/10