'Hall Pass'

'Hall Pass' (R) (2 stars)

Writer: Pete Jones
Directors: Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly
Starring: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate,
Richard Jenkins, Nicky Whelan, Stephen Merchant

The Farrelly Brothers started on such a hot streak with two classic comedies in "There's Something About Mary" and one of my favorites, the vastly under rated
"Kingpin". Those movies were brilliant, hilarious, vulgar without being ugly and were two of the funniest movies in the past three decades. I also liked to a lesser degree two of their fine comedies "Stuck On You" and "The Ringer". Ever since then they have lost that magic touch and their last few movies have been unfunny, vulgar without being inspired and weakly written. For example, in "Hall Pass" there are three gross out gags that stop the movie dead in it's tracks. They are not funny but actually just gross. I also think for a Farrelly Brothers movie this just holds back from delivering huge laughs and piles on too much sentiment. There was sentiment in "Mary" and "Kingpin" but it didn't feel tacked on. I also think Jason Sudeikis is all wrong for his role. He just seems too straight laced and unlikable for this role when a gentler presence like Ed Helms would be better. Movies like "The Hangover" are the new hip and funnier style of comedy and "Hall Pass" is too square for this style.

"Hall Pass" is about two married couples, one with kids played by Owen Wilson and the very sweet and funny Jenna Fischer. The other couple is played by Sudeikis and the very funny and talented Christina Applegate. The men, like most men in these movies, think constantly about sex and do things like being caught gawking at women. The ladies decide to give their husbands a Hall Pass which means a week away from the responsibilities of marriage. Pretty much what happens in this movie is predictable, we know where it is going and there are no surprises. Is the movie funny? Well it has quite a few laughs but nothing laugh out loud funny, just chuckle worthy. There is a very funny scene as Wilson and Sudeikis get caught on camera saying vulgar things about their hosts at a party. There is a great supporting turn by the wonderful character actor Richard Jenkins as a sex mentor. There is also a sweet, charming character played by Nicky Whelan who Wilson gets involved with.

I liked Wilson, Applegate, Fischer and Jenkins and I liked the first half hour because the movie is set up well. I was excited in the beginning that the movie would let loose and get crazy but it never happened. The movie is sometimes vulgar but it is way too nice. I really don't go to a movie like this craving a moral lesson on marriage and how great monogamy is. First I am not a big supporter of the institution of marriage and I don't want to be preached at by a vulgar comedy when I should be laughing my ass off. The Farrellys need to get their mojo back to the time when they were vulgar but also very smart and they didn't turn their movie into a sentimental bore. Their two signature classics had rapid fire laughs, didn't slow down to preach and had the guts to let loose and feel no shame. When movies as merciless as "The Hangover" are ruling the movie world, it is time to go back to the drawing board and get dirty.