Mr. Woodcock (2007)

13% of critics liked it
(110 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(237,676 ratings)

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 teenage years his nemesis was Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton), his junior-high gym teacher, who… More 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 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Craig Gillespie
Written By: Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 14, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jan 15, 2008
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

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, USA Today
This may be the most laugh-free comedy of the year.
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, 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.
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.
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 performances that ring universally true.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Mr Woodcock is ok as far as predictable, low-brow Hollywood comedies are concerned, and it's considerably elevated by its above average cast.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
More abusive humor from Billy Bob Thornton.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O longa não apenas acaba se revelando terrivelmente sem graça como também assusta por sua moral torta, condizente com a do personagem-título.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
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.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a tedious and hackneyed effort that surely (and hopefully) marks Billy Bob Thornton's final appearance as a comedically misanthropic curmudgeon...
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
... [D]irector Craig Gillespie and his screenwriters can't seem to find anything interesting to do with these two.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It's hard to believe after watching this film that an Oscar winner like Billy Bob Thornton chose to be in it.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The whole film is like a depressing nightmare.
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
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?
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
A mean-spirited insult comedy laced with locker room humor.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Has the mark of something dashed off after reading what dozens of screenwriting manuals had to say about the marketplace and the three-act paradigm, but not one word about characterization or dramatic unity.
Stephen Himes, Flak Magazine
A close reading of Mr. Woodcock reveals a dark, depressing film about small town decline. I think.
Bruce Bennett, Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
One can't help but wonder what the Coens or Farrellys might have done with this cast and premise.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

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… More
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 performances 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.
Dean !

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… More
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 talented line up!
Brad W

There were funny parts in the movie, but its so dumb and bad its hard to even remotely like this movie.
Wildaly M

Mr. Woodcock just doesn't cut it for me.
Richard C

some funny parts but not that great of a movie. C+
Conner R

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… More
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 miscast as a repressed teen, it just didn't make sense.
KJ P

Severely average! It can be funny at times, but the story overshadows the laughs, because of how bad it is!
Red L

I don't think much of humour that puts people down. Mind you Billy Bob Thornton plays the sadistic teacher well.
Phil H

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 you… More
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 you like Billy Bob its for you, if you dont then stay clear, simple.
Nicki M

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.
Derek A

Quick Review: This movie is about as funny as it's title and promotion poster (yeah the one where Billy Bob is holding two basketballs at his crotch). Funny right? I didn't laugh once... nothing original, nothing clever, nothing to take out of it, NOTHING. In fact,… More
Quick Review: This movie is about as funny as it's title and promotion poster (yeah the one where Billy Bob is holding two basketballs at his crotch). Funny right? I didn't laugh once... nothing original, nothing clever, nothing to take out of it, NOTHING. In fact, there's nothing to write about either. This film is a complete waste of time and space. It should also be noted that I have the utmost respect for Billy Bob and Seann William Scott. I guess we all need a paycheck sometime.......
Dean M

It made me laugh very bit as well as what I thought Billy Bob Thornton as his title role is bloody bully teacher. Thorton is as good as ever, but it's Seann William Scott, who steals the show.
Chris G

Mr. Woodcock stars Billy Bob Thornton as the title character who is a sadistic gym teacher that gets engaged to a former students (Sean William Scott) mother played by Susan Sarandon. Scott's character, John Farley can't cope with the thought of this sadistic man being his… More
Mr. Woodcock stars Billy Bob Thornton as the title character who is a sadistic gym teacher that gets engaged to a former students (Sean William Scott) mother played by Susan Sarandon. Scott's character, John Farley can't cope with the thought of this sadistic man being his step father. The problem with Mr. Woodcock is that it isn't really that funny. You may get one chuckle here and one chuckle there, but overall the film is Sean William Scott whining for 90 minutes. Billy Bob Thornton is in PG-13 Bad Santa mode as Woodcock who seems to hate everybody. What's funny is that the plot is quite simple and taken to its basic core has been done many times before (see Yours, Min, and Ours). What I found interesting about Mr. Woodcock is that some subplots were blah at best or just put to sleep in the middle (I saw no point in the relationship with the cheerleader coach). I wouldn't call this movie a must see. Hell, I wouldn't call this movie a rainy day on TBS while sick in bed film to watch while comatose. Dull, unfunny, and unfinished.
Bobby H

The movie was okay, personally I think Sean William Scott was out of his element in this one. He put on a good role, but it wasnt the same actor that I like seeing in other comedies. Billy Bob Thorton keeps his cocky-assholish attitude that he carries into all of his movie's… More
The movie was okay, personally I think Sean William Scott was out of his element in this one. He put on a good role, but it wasnt the same actor that I like seeing in other comedies. Billy Bob Thorton keeps his cocky-assholish attitude that he carries into all of his movie's and that's merly the only part of this movie that is really great to watch. He's a great actor and saved this movie from being total disaster. The storyline is pretty funny, the plot is average, and the ending is predictiable. The worse part about this movie is it was previewed as a much funnier movie then it turns out to be, misleading you with scenes from woodcocks educational career, that is usually just casual flash backs that there are not enough of. Go into this movie not looking for something halarious or another classic comedy and you will be satisfied, go into it looking for what it portrayed, you will hate it.
Lady D

A very funny film that lived up to the trailer and my sense of humour. So many trailors only show the funny parts, but there were many laugh out loud moments, throughout for me. I've enjoyed Billy Bob Thornton in Comedy and serious films.
Arash X

I liked this movie,It has its funny moments, Billy Bob Thornton is good and so is Sean William Scott with his hilarious facial expressions, Amy Poehler is annoying sometimes
Lenny M

Stereotypical bs, cculd use more cocks and wood I guess.
Roy G

As usual, Billy Bob is very watchable in the lead. But the rest of the film is only so-so.
Lafe F

Not a very fun movie. It's not enjoyable to see kids being mistreated by their harsh gym teacher. Susan Sarandan's character seemed really dense to fall for someone as obviously evil as Mr. Woodcock. His name was a bit too jab-able. The lessons learned in the end did not… More
Not a very fun movie. It's not enjoyable to see kids being mistreated by their harsh gym teacher. Susan Sarandan's character seemed really dense to fall for someone as obviously evil as Mr. Woodcock. His name was a bit too jab-able. The lessons learned in the end did not amount to much. Seann William Scott was great in this one, as a boy turned man; but too bad he lost it during the awards ceremony. The corncob eating contest was somewhat funny. There was a lot of pain in the movie: with the stretcher hitting the pothole, the crying mom, the kids being whacked with the stick, the seniors' swim class, the baseball bat beating and the bed-thumping. The dad in the nursing home was a bit of a surprise. Nothing too enjoyable happened here, making for a miserable comedy.
Jose Z

Its an average movie, its not that great but it isn't bad also. It has some funny moments but I expected a non stop laughing comedy but it wasn't. The story about John Farley a man Who as a kid was a little overweight and received the abuse of his gym teacher, returns to… More
Its an average movie, its not that great but it isn't bad also. It has some funny moments but I expected a non stop laughing comedy but it wasn't. The story about John Farley a man Who as a kid was a little overweight and received the abuse of his gym teacher, returns to his hometown just to notice that his mother is dating the same gym teacher , he will try everything to break up the relationship. The cast is very good. Billy Bob Thornton in a role that fits him like a glove but that has been repeating for the last three movies. Susan Sarandon is good, her performance is quite regular. Sean William Scott was ok, a performance that wasn't developed to the 100%. Amy Poehler role as a neurotic and alcoholic manager was really funny. In general this is a movie that you will enjoy but its not the best option to spend a good time.