FILM REVIEW - Hall Pass (15/3/2011)

So Nici and I had a bit of time to kill today and decided that we should go and watch a film (for a change!). Originally we planned to go and see The Adjustment Bureau, but we were a little late and settled for Hall Pass. The story of Rick (Owen Wilson) and his best friend Fred (Jason Sedeikis), who, after tormenting their wives to their wits end due to their obsessions with sex, are granted a "Hall Pass" - one week off marriage. Their wives part company with them for one whole week, and they are given permission to do in that week whatever they so please. Cue endless amounts of hilarity... or not.

The storyline was incredibly ridiculous and the gags woven into it were predictable and poorly delivered - definitely not one of Wilson's best moments. To give it it's dues, there were some very funny parts, but not enough to fill the 105 minutes of film you sit through. And cringingly, it would seem that the writer fell to cheap laughs to get any comedy what so ever (think huge black penis is Wilson's face and you'll get the picture). The ending didn't show up the rest of the film - it was predictable, and speaking about it between ourselves during the final scenes, there was so much room for some laughs that the writers just missed out on.

The one saving grace was the hilarious turn from our very own Stephen Merchant, and the funniest part of the entire film is during the credits, when Merchant has his own little scene. Why they put it there, when people can miss it entirely if they walk out, is beyond me.

Overall, it was a semi-decent "filling in time" film, but I wouldn't rush out to watch it, and would advise that you wait to watch it on TV rather than spending any money on it.

TTFN and all that jazz
Kim
xx