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Wild Hogs
Directed by: Walt Becker
Starring: John Travolta
Genre:
Comedy
Run Time: 100
min.
Release Date:
March 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
With the comedic talent of
Tim Allen (CARS)
and Martin Lawrence, and the acting chops of John Travolta (BE COOL) and
William H. Macy (THANK YOU FOR SMOKING), you’d think that WILD HOGS was
destined for instant success. But with a terribly predictable script and
the dumbed-down story of something very Disney-esque, this film fails
more than succeeds.
That’s not to say it doesn’t have its moments; it does. But most of them
are thanks to William H. Macy, who successfully carries off not only the
romance and comedy angles, but also the more dramatic portions.
So let’s look at the film’s machinations...
Four buddies decide to take a roadtrip in order to spice up their
spiceless lives. They are a work-a-holic dentist named Doug (Tim Allen),
a soon-to-be broke and loveless man named Woody (John Travolta, who
instigates the roadtrip), a handyman turned writer named Bobby (Martin
Lawrence) and finally the computer geek and dangerous motorcycler Dudley
(William H. Macy). Each of them have their own unique reasons for going
on the trip. Woody (Travolta) is running away from his financial and
relationship woes; Doug (Allen) wants to recapture his youth; Bobby
(Lawrence) needs to escape an overbearing wife; and Dudley who ...well
...just wants to go and learn how to ride without ending up on the
pavement.
The open road beckons with all of its coolness. This includes bug
splatter, bird attacks, heavy rains, an overtly gay highway patrolman
(John C. McGinley of SCRUBS fame), and a real band of roughshod bikers
collectively called the Del Fuegos. When our unsuspecting foursome
enters the Del Fuegos bar, terrible things begin to brew. The Wild Hogs
(as their leather jackets proudly announce) are in trouble. Jack (Ray Liotta,
SMOKIN’ ACES) is the leader of the Del Fuegos and summarily
steals Dudley’s bike. Woody (Travolta) becomes incensed and sneaks back
to the biker bar and steals back Dudley’s ride, but in the process
accidentally blows up the Del Fuego’s watering hole.
The rest of the film is dedicated to Frank and his Del Fuego brothers
tracking down the Wild Hogs in preparation for extermination.
Meanwhile, our four Harley riders hold up in a small town that annually
gets terrorized by the Del Fuegos. But once the bad guys learn where the
Wild Hogs are hiding, Frank and his gang head into town prepared to do
whatever it takes to eliminate them.
It is the love interest of Dudley that sparks revolt within the town.
Maggie (Marisa Tomei, FACTOTUM) is the owner of a small diner and when
the Del Fuegos threaten to burn it down, Dudley steps up to meet the
dastardly villains (dun! dun! dun!). With their friend in mortal danger,
the remaining Wild Hogs come out of hiding to help protect their biker
brother.
It is only through the intervention of one man that everything
eventually works itself out, allowing our group of ‘Easy Riders’ a
smooth exit.
Although funny in spots (a vulture following the Wild Hogs while they’re
forced to push their bikes, William H. Macy’s many crashes, the advances
of the homosexual cop), the predictability of everything and the limited
laughs didn’t warrant a positive rating.
I would’ve liked to have seen more substance and/or
laughs via Allen, Lawrence, and Travolta, but they seemed static against
the ever-moving Macy who steals every scene he’s in.
(back to top) |
Image from Wild Hogs
DVD cost: $19.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The army-green bike Jack
(Ray Liotta) is riding has the Orange County Choppers logo, the custom
bike building company made famous in American Chopper.
Movie Quote: "Every
now and then you gotta slap the bull."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Wild Hogs
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