WILD HOGS (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Wild Hogs promises lots of laughs from its bylines and trailers, but ironically fails to deliver the expected product despite a story concept that should have provided non-stop belly laughs. The biggest laugh one takes from this film becomes ‘how in the world did it get produced?’ Part of the challenge is the onscreen charisma existing between Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy. It’s completely lacking. Couple that with a poor script and the movie immediately becomes a low C-grade film.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Four men—a lawyer, computer programmer, dentist, and plumber—find their gentleman’s weekend motorcycle club, The Wildhogs, needs to ‘prove up’ when challenged by another ‘real’ bike club, the Del Fuegos.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Walt Becker for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Amy Sayres and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Doug Madsen (Tim Allen), Woody Stevens (John Travolta), Bobby Davis (Martin Lawrence), Dudley Frank (William H. Macy), Jack (Ray Liotta), Maggie (Marisa Tomei), Red (Kevin Durand), Murdock (M.C. Gainey), Kelly Madsen (Jill Hennessy), and Billy Madsen (Dominic Janes).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. There are better movies about ‘proving up’—such as Drillbit Taylor and Waterboy.

Ben Meyers

OLD DOGS (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.0|5.0 Starsìì

Old Dogs is plagued with poor casting choices and awkwardness. It’s not your normal Disney movie. Robin Williams and John Travolta do not cast well together. Travolta is an action/drama/singer/star personality. Williams is a comedian personality. One or the other cast in this movie is a good choice; both of them together are not good choices. Seth Green as a supporting actor is not a good casting meld either. Old Dogs could have been so much better with different crew on board. Old Dogs begins as a good story concept; but, the storyline is not well portrayed. The camp scenes and the scenes where medication pills are mixed and sorted seem awkward. Surprisingly, the movie made profit at the box office.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Seven years after their divorce, Vicki (Kelly Preston) shows up again in Dan’s (Robin Williams) life, tells him her twins are his, and asks him to watch them while she does jail time for being an activist.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Walt Becker for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Garrett Grant for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Charlie (John Travolta), Zach (Conner Rayburn), Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta), Amanda (Lori Loughlin), Craig (Seth Green), Jimmy Lunchbox (Bernie Mac), and Barry (Matt Dillon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Many of the movie’s scenes seem unnecessary to moving the storyline along. That, combined with poor casting choices, makes this movie a poor pick for an evening’s entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers