Mr. Woodcock
Mr. Woodcock
Taken aback by his mother's wedding announcement, a young man returns home in an effort to stop her from marrying his old high school gym teacher, a man who made middle school hell for generations of students.
Manuel Frangis reviewedMarch 21, 2025
I just watched Mr. Woodcock again and I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. This is one of those comedies that does not try to be anything more than what it is a fun simple movie built around an absolutely ridiculous situation. It is packed with awkward humor sarcastic insults and a great cast that makes everything work.
The story follows John Farley a self help guru who returns to his hometown only to find out that his mother is dating the one man who made his childhood a nightmare his old gym teacher Mr. Woodcock. That setup alone is funny but what makes it even better is how over the top and relentless Mr. Woodcock is. He is the kind of character who takes every opportunity to belittle humiliate and push John to his limits making for some of the funniest and most uncomfortable moments in the movie.
Billy Bob Thornton is perfect as Mr. Woodcock. He plays the role with such a deadpan delivery and complete lack of emotion that it makes everything ten times funnier. Every insult every stare and every ridiculous moment is made even better by how seriously he takes himself. He is the kind of villain that is so committed to being awful that you cannot help but laugh.
Seann William Scott as John Farley brings a great mix of nervous energy and frustration. His reactions to Woodcock’s mind games are some of the best moments in the movie. He plays the character in a way that makes you feel for him while still keeping the comedy front and center. His slow breakdown as he realizes just how impossible Woodcock is to deal with is what makes the movie work.
Susan Sarandon as John’s mom adds a nice balance to all the chaos. She plays the role in a way that feels believable making the situation even funnier because she has no idea how insane it is. Her chemistry with both Scott and Thornton helps keep everything grounded even when things get completely ridiculous.
The humor in Mr. Woodcock is exactly what you would expect from a mid 2000s comedy. It is a mix of physical comedy sarcastic dialogue and nonstop awkward situations. The movie does not rely on gross out humor or cheap laughs instead it leans into how ridiculous the whole premise is and lets the characters do the work.
The pacing is solid. There is never a slow moment and the movie keeps moving from one awkward hilarious scene to the next. There are a few moments where the jokes start to feel a little repetitive but overall it stays entertaining from start to finish.
The biggest reason I am not giving it a full 5 out of 5 is because the story is predictable. You know exactly where it is going from the start and while the jokes keep it fun it does not really do anything new. Some of the jokes also go on a little too long but that is a minor complaint because the performances make up for it.
Overall Mr. Woodcock is a fun and easy to watch comedy that does not take itself too seriously. It is the kind of movie that is perfect when you just want to laugh at something ridiculous. I had a great time watching it and it is definitely one I would watch again.