Wild Hogs

18 August 2007. Even though there were few discontinuities, explanatory scenes left out, overall this movie is one of the more hilarious and funny movies of the year. It manages to maintain its sense of bewildering, humorous sight gags. William Macy is great, being the classic but sophisticated computer nerd while John Travolta gets to show off some of his breadth of both comedic and drama acting. This movie one of the best smooth endings into the credits and a satisfyingly decent if not completely believable twist. There is the typical macho, middle age man crises along the lines of "City Slickers." However, in this movie there is a better blending of home and family, interaction with the motorcycle gang Wildhogs as well as more social interaction with other characters. Presenting a performance and script above expectations, eight out of Ten Stars.

I attended a pre-release screening of the movie in Philadelphia, and I went in expecting a lot of zany sequences, funny violence and a truckload of laughs, and I wasn't disappointed.

Messrs. Travolta, Allen, Lawrence and Macy fit their parts well, and while the story doesn't demand a lot from the actors, they are good as middle-aged professionals tired of their boring lives. The film's theme is a road-trip across America on Harley-Davidson's, with leather jackets ("Wild Hogs" is what they call themselves) and all the other paraphernalia. The whole movie is littered with stereotypes and clichéd characters and plots, and this lends an air of predictability to it. Some people might say that it's closer to an animation, given the generous helpings of crashes and falls, but then I didn't find it to be a put-off because it doesn't pretend to be an action film. You fall, you look funny, you get back up, and story moves on.

At the outset, I thought that there might be a resemblance to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with it's concept of two tired guys out to discover the American Dream, but it isn't so. The humour is rib-tickling at times, and mostly slapstick. Among individual performances, nobody really steals the screen, but the overall chemistry between the Wild Hogs is good. Ray Liotta plays the bad guy with an overdose of menace, and Marisa Tomei did a good job of looking pretty. Some of the cinematography is breathtaking, but for a road trip across America, there was very little of variety in location.

I won't advise spending $15 on it in a theater, but it'll be a fun watch with friends, when the DVD comes out, much like how I would judge Eurotrip.

So last night i went and saw a sneak preview of this movie. I figured it would be like a lot of recent mainstream comedies where all the funny parts were in the commercial. Not True. I started laughing within the first 5 minutes and didn't stop for almost the rest of the movie. Same goes for my mother, who in her laughter accidentally spit soda all over the man in front of her, to my 11 year old brother. I would warn you if you are considering taking kids under the age of 8 there is a surprising amount of profanity (when i went i thought it was a kids movie) and sexual humor. I would say go see it in theaters, it is one of the funniest mainstream comedies i have seen in a while.

I would have given this movie a 10 had it not had Martin Lawrence in it. I think they should have gotten Cuba Gooding Jr. To play the part of Bobby. He is much funnier than Lawrence. Lawrence's character is the same in every single part he plays...it has grown weary, old and not funny. I love the idea of older guys heading out on the open road. As a motorcycle owner and rider it put a smile on my face. Liotta as the gang leader was perfect. R. I. P. Mr. Liotta... I will miss you deeply on the big screen. If you don't like this movie you have never been on the open road and have no sense of humor :) It's a wonderful movie.

Well structured hero journey with some outdated humor makes for a great watch late at night with pj's and some popcorn. I might be bias from growing up with it, but totally bring the kids ages 12-15they will love it.