2008 Woodie Awards
Stifler Takes on Sling Blade in Competitive New Comedy
Thornton reprises role as a jerk, while Scott wimps out of his role.
Heidi Nanigian
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Entertainment
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The movie starts off with a scene set in the gym with Mr. Woodcock (Thornton) as a tough, critical gym teacher who acts like a drill sergeant and treats his students like they are soldiers. John Farley (Scott) was a victim of Mr. Woodcock's verbal and physical abuse as a student. He makes it through high school and years later writes a successful self-help book about letting go of the past, which stems back to his gym teacher. While on his successful book tour, he is informed that in his hometown he is going to be awarded the town's Corn Cob Key, which is the most prestigious award, for his achievement.
When he arrives back home he encounters some startling news, his widowed mother, Beverly Farley, (Sarandon) is dating Mr. Woodcock and thinks that he is the most wonderful man in the world. Woodcock is still the same drill sergeant of a guy that he always was, except this time around John has to deal with the abuse in his own home.
So the battle is on with John trying to prove to both his mother and their community what a bad person Mr. Woodcock really is. Unfortunately for him, everyone has the perfect image of Mr. Woodcock and they praise him for all his teaching efforts and the lives he has positively affected.
Farley and his friends try to find any dirt they can on the old gym teacher so that his mother will reconsider her relationship with him. As the pieces all come together, John seems to realize how much his mother actually cares for Mr. Woodcock and doesn't want to hurt her.
This is the perfect role for Billy Bob Thornton, who has become a mastermind at creating believable cynical and unemotional characters, as evidence by his role as a trailer-trash mall Santa in, "Bad Santa."
This was quite a change of pace for Seann William Scott, who normally plays sarcastic, crude and witty characters, such as the infamous Stifler character from the "American Pie" films. However, in this role his character is somewhat of a wimp, begging for a backbone as he goes head on with Mr. Woodcock.
Susan Sarandon does quite well in the supporting role. She gives it her all and makes her character believable.
The tagline for the film is completly fitting and hilarious: "letting go of your past is hard... especially when it's dating your mom."
The movie overall was bound to put a smile on anyone's face who has ever had a teacher who made them feel stupid or embarrassed in front of their peers.
The movie was entertaining and the delivery of the performances made it a success. The film is highly recommended for anyone in the mood for a good laugh or two.
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