Hall Pass isn’t consistently funny, but it does have enough raunch and laughs to get you through with a few scenes you may never be able to forget no matter how hard you try. There have been so many movies done about marriages, young or old, so the subject has to be done in an extreme way and who better than the directors of There’s Something About Mary? There are some hilarious scenes, but somewhere in the middle of the movie, things begin to slow down and feel tiresome. But it does manage to redeem itself by the end.
Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) are best friends and when they were single, they knew how to mingle. But they have both been married for some years now and their wives (Christina Applegate and Jenna Fischer) start to notice how their husbands have been acting restless so they offer them a “hall pass,” a week off from marriage to do whatever you want without any consequences. Once Rick and Fred begin their week off from marriage, they couldn’t be more pumped and thrilled about it. But as each day passes, they realize they aren’t who they once were. They have lost their touch and their perspective on how it is to be single and their expectations may have been just a little too high.
Bobby and Peter Farrelly have directed some great comedies over the years (Dumb and Dumber, Me, Myself and Irene, There’s Something About Mary). However, in recent years they have been missing the mark (Stuck On You, The Heartbreak Kid). But with Hall Pass, it is definitely a step in the right direction. The movie does have a human touch to it that deals with marriage and knowing you have found the only one for you. The Farrelly brothers can make a movie funny and disgusting, but they never forget to put a little heart into it too.
The cast is a good one, but the main laughs come from Wilson and Sudeikis. We know Wilson can be hilarious, but he plays the straight-laced guy in this one. While both characters are completely out of their element, Sudeikis finally gets to showcase his comedic genius in a film. He has most of the good lines and his character really gets out of control. Almost everything hilarious that happens either has him saying it or being a part of it. Sudeikis is certainly the standout in this movie.
Hall Pass has a funny, interesting concept, but I thought there would be more to it. It should have been better than what it is. It is not disappointing but with an R-rating, it could have been so much more. The Farrelly brothers have the talent and ability. We have seen it before from these guys, but they only went so far and, at times, they crossed the line, but maybe just once or twice. Over all, the movie will shock you at least once and Sudeikis cannot be missed. At the same time, Hall Pass does go through some rough patches and mainly plays it safe, which could be a bummer for fans of the Farrelly brothers.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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