Hall Pass: Review By Corey W.

Trailers and advertisements for "Hall Pass" didn't do the greatest job catching my attention on wanting to see this. It was when I discovered that the Farrelly brothers were the ones behind it that actually intrigued me a little. Though they haven't made a real success since "There's Something About Mary", their second feature film, I felt that the story of "Hall Pass" was right up their alley and had a lot of potential into being a gross-out, hysterical comedy. I can honestly say that I haven't laughed in a theatre so hard since "The Hangover", and that was over a year and a half ago. "Hall Pass" may not be as hilarious as their past achievements like "Dumb and Dumber", but, this is definitely a huge improvement over their last few projects.

The storyline behind "Hall Pass" isn't something you'd ever expect from any couple no matter what level their relationship status stands on. Even though it seems a little over-the-top, the plot of the film easily sets itself up for crude humor, sexual jokes, and a raunchy good time. From start to finish the film manages to keep the audience laughing hysterically from corny jokes and raunchy, gross-out humor. The movie focuses on two married couples. Rick and Fred are both happily married, but sometimes their thoughts of being with other women can bother their wives and when after a few hysterical mishaps fed the women up, they each take advice from a therapist and give them each a hall pass-one week free of being marriage. The two, with the accompany of friends, set off on a wild-adventure looking to open up to what they were when they were younger and succeed at getting laid one last time by another woman before their week is up. Obviously, the movie isn't straight-forward. It goes completely over the line with it's humor and can even be sexist at times, but, overall it's a very enjoyable, side-splitting, hardcore R-rated comedy that doesn't deserve to be looked away from just because it was advertised badly.

Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis both play the leads in the film as best pals Rick and Fred. Wilson and Sudeikis, both whom have excellent chemistry in the film, seem to battle in every scene one outshining the other every other minute. Sudeikis' character Fred is the Alan for "Hall Pass", always hilarious and with something surprising to say. I honestly wasn't expecting any attempt at a decent performance brought from the actors, I mean, who would? But, the script isn't as flat as I was expecting and both leads get their chance to actually show that their not just fooling around the entire time, and that they're actually putting some effort in. "The Office" star, Jenna Fischer and "Married...with Children" Christina Applegate play the wives of Rick and Fred. While the two can have a funny line here and there, they're what keep the serious tone to the film at a fair level. Their scenes are what give the audience a feel of what marriage can be like and how it can end up. I thought Fischer and Applegate both gave good performances and I found it very believable for Applegate being Sudeikis' wife and Fischer being Wilson's wife. Both couples had good chemistry in the film. I wasn't disappointed with their casting choices, at all. And then we get to the co-stars of the movie. Performances by Richard Jenkins, Stephen Merchant and Rob Moran fall short of nothing but hysterical and Nickly Whelan manages to entertain the audience in the few little scenes that she's in. I thought the co-stars of the film really brought out most of the films silly humor, though, so I was more than happy with their jobs.

As I already mentioned, the last few films from Bobby and Peter Farrelly have been nothing but flops. "Dumb and Dumber", "There's Something about Mary" and "Me, Myself, and Irene" being just about the only films of theirs I care for, those were their works from the past. After big flops like "Shallow Hal", "Osmosis Jones", and "Stuck on You" and a couple more, they took a four-year hiatus. "Hall Pass" would be their big return, so, obviously this was a please or disappoint project for them. I can glady say that "Hall Pass" can be added onto the list with their classic-comedies like "Dumb and Dumber". It grasps the same gross humor and balances over-the-top comedy without getting too stupid. The Farrelly Brothers probably won't disappoint with their latest comedy and they both do a great job keeping the look of the film very bright and quirky.

The movie, of course, is not perfect however. There were a few things I didn't like. While the film does always remain enjoyable, I felt the movie lacked a conflict. The character's main goal is to have sex in the weeks time, but, the two leads never seem to have a conflict in the movie other than failing at picking up women. I wish that the movie had a bit more to that conflict and added something else to it because that little side to the story didn't seem like enough to make the films plot of "being free from marriage" complete. I felt much more could've been done with the "free from marriage card" other than just getting laid. But, though the movie doesn't have much else than that, it still keeps itself incredibly entertaining. But, much more could've been done.

All and all, "Hall Pass" shall have you laughing from start to finish from its sick humor, crazy storyline, and perfect chemistry from Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis. It may not be perfect, but its definitely a fun night at the movies. If your looking for quirky, raunchy humor then "Hall Pass" would be your number one choice. While women may not enjoy this as much as men, or maybe even at all, depending on the girl, this is something a guy should enjoy for sure. Overall, it's a good way to laugh yourself off for two hours. If your still not too sure about "Hall Pass", then at least give it your rent's worth. I'm glad I went and saw this even though the trailers led me wrong. Don't let the corny, terribly made trailers fool you too.

Thanks for the read!

-Screeny