Hall Pass
The war between the Farrley Bros and Judd Apatow, two directors (I consider the Farrley Bros one) that share a similar approach to comedies, is on. They both develop their movies the same way; R-rated shock humor (mostly in bad taste), that is underlined with a certain wholesome sweetness to the characters as well as some insightful observations of the human condition. The winner? We are. I love both these directors. It appears Hall Pass is getting mixed reviews, but if you are a fan of the Farrelly Bros (Something about Mary and, Me, Myself, and Irene), then you know exactly what you are getting. Personally, it’s my kind of humor.
The concept is that after 20 years of marriage, 2 wives grant their delusional husbands a week off of marriage to prove that they aren’t missing out on anything. In other words; a Hall Pass. One of the great things about being married is that men can convince themselves that they are still studs, if only it weren’t for the wives cramping their style. Little do they realize, the gradual neutering and domestication that has taken its’ toll on them as time marches on. Their recollection of their youth becomes clouded as they remember being much more of ladies men than they actually were and the passage into middle age has made the reality even worse.
Of course, like with most films of the ‘men vs women’ variety, the men come across as the buffoons and the women are portrayed as putting up with their insanity. Rick (Owen Wilson) plays uncool so well it’s almost cool and Fred (SNL player Jason Sudeikis) plays the affable every man sidekick who can’t figure out why everyone considers him ‘portly’. Maggie (Jenna Fischer) and Grace (Christina Applegate) play their roles as attractive yet still soccer mommish wives with great perturbed comedic timing. Of course, they are pursued by impossibly attractive men during the Hall Pass despite their reluctance.
The rest of the cast is populated by the Farrley Bros trademark use of Felliniesque style cartoonish characters. All freakish, yet somehow familiar in our everyday life. We feel guilty at laughing at these character’s bizarre absurdities, but we can’t keep ourselves from laughing. We think; ‘that is so wrong’ and then console ourselves that we will feel guilty later for laughing at these people.
The laughs come from seeing these men enter the world of freedom with no idea how square they are. They are torn whether Applebee’s or the Olive Garden is the best place to meet available young women on a Friday night. One friend, irritated by their naiveté, tells them that of course Chili’s is the only real place to meet women. As 9:30pm rolls around they pack it up and vow to try again the next night.
Again, the goal through-out this movie is shock humor and each gag becomes more outrageous than the last. Some are so outrageous that I won’t even hint at what they are here. At some point, I wondered how this didn’t get the long defunct NC-17 rating. Not to contradict myself, but the use of gratuitous nudity or sex gags is somehow not gratuitous in the Farrelly Bros films. Gratuity is what they go for.
I will say, despite my previous comment about the lopsidedness of the ‘men vs women’ portrayal, each of the players deal with temptation in their own way and each trial, no matter what the outcome, draws us closer to the characters for their innate goodness.
It is hilarious and interesting where the Farrley Bros find so many incredibly attractive women. Leigh (Nicky Whelan) the Aussie barista is like no barista I have ever seen. I wondered if that is how she really looks or just how Rick perceives her to look given his tortured monogamous lifestyle. His children’s babysitter (Alexandra Daddario) also meeting every cliché of a beguiling Lolita siren.
I walked out of this movie in no way thinking it will be a classic or even memorable, but I will say that I laughed continuously and thought that the feel good wholesomeness of the ending was my penance for all the ‘so wrong, but oh so right’ humor that I felt guilty enjoying
I rate this ***
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