That singular gloop atop Cameron Diaz’s head in “There’s Something About Mary” symbolizes the Farrelly brothers at their stomach-churning finest.
The shock gags in “Hall Pass,” the brothers’ new comedy, can hardly be described in a family-friendly medium. Neither are they as memorable, or as funny, as Diaz’s unique ‘do.
Peter and Bobby Farrelly clearly painted themselves into an R-rated corner with past successes like “Mary” and “Kingpin.” That leaves “Hall Pass” as an intermittently amusing vehicle for the brothers’ envelope-staining comedy.
Fred and Rick (Jason Sudeikis, Owen Wilson) are the kind of married guys who love their wives but also love checking out pretty girls who cross their path. Following two awkwardly staged circumstances and a pep talk from a pop psychiatrist (Joy Behar), their wives (Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate) give their mates a “hall pass.” Fred and Rick get an entire week to be single again with no strings or consequences attached.
At first, the boys are delighted, and so are their buddies eager to live vicariously through them.
It quickly becomes clear that Fred and Rick neither have the stomach nor the pick-up lines to take advantage of the offer. Meanwhile, their wives end up creating sexual sparks while attending a local baseball team picnic.
Wilson is particularly effective at showing just how married life can dull the dating chops. He quotes musty rock songs when trying to flirt with a comely coffee barista (Nicky Whelan) and can’t even sense when someone is actually coming on to him. Sudeikis doesn’t distinguish himself here as a frustrated married man, leaving his future as yet another “Saturday Night Live” alum gone Hollywood in doubt.
The signature Farrelly shock gags are on full display in “Hall Pass,” but they feel calculated rather than inspired. One involves a sneeze with disgusting consequences, and another is built around a self-love session to the tune of “The Best of Times.” A third could have been spliced in from an adult movie reel.
The great Richard Jenkins appears late in the film as a gold-plated Romeo who knows all the right moves with the ladies. But he’s sorely miscast here, too old to convincingly play a lady killer anywhere near his prime.
The Farrellys once had the whole raunchy but sweet niche to themselves. But Judd Apatow beat them at their own game with films like “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.” “Hall Pass” does have its share of tender moments, particularly as the men realize just how much they adore their wives, warts and all. But those feelings are typically brushed aside for another labored sight gag or sub plot.
And Apatow has a much deeper comic bench to draw upon for an added laugh or three. In “Hall Pass,” we’re stuck with Larry Joe Campbell, J.B. Smoove and Stephen Merchant as the boys’ sexually frustrated posse. The trio will never be confused with the likes of Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen or Paul Rudd.
“Hall Pass” could have been a neo-classic, a boys will be boys romp with enough heart to win the ladies over. But the Farrelly brothers are too busy mining laughs from fecal matter and other indelicate topics to bother.
(Photo: Jason Sudeikis and Owen Wilson play married men given a “Hall Pass” by their wives. Warner Bros.)
Related posts:
on 
on 
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
And to think, I could’ve lived a long, full life without ever having to read the phrase “envelope-staining comedy”. Eugh.
Hard to write about “Hall Pass” and keep it clean, Tom!
I can say that I have seen all of the Farrelly Bros movies, never paid to see them I should say, and I yet to find one truely funny. Some of the situations are humorous and a few of the “events” in the movie are comical but none of them have ever made me LOL. Probably why I dont think Quentine Taratino is so great simply because he likes to use every cuss word in the English language in most of his dialogues.
I loved Kingpin. This, maybe not so much.
I did kind of like Kingpin but that was mostly for Bill Murrey. After a while Randy Quaid was annoying.
My big problem with the “genius” of apatow, is when you listen to the commentaries on DVD the most common word you hear is “Improv.” Apatow might offer a solid base, but it seems that most of the movie, as it applies with any interaction with secondary characters, they just wing it.
I get the sense that his “genius” consists of having funny friends, and saying “Hey, how about I just let my funny friends burn through a million feet of film?” (they burned through a million feet on “40 Year old Virgin.”
Not that I don’t like his movies, but the one that appeared most defined from start to end was Sarah Marshall, and I thought it was weaker than a shirley temple with no cherries.
The Farrelly’s really haven’t done much for me other than Kingpin. Mary was okay, Irene was tolerable, and the one with jimmy fallon, eh, could have just been a sketch comedy as far as I’m concerned.
But Kingpin was flogging hilarious.
this movie is ridculous. i can’t understand why Owen Wilson’s character wouldn’t have boned both the Austalian chick Leigh, and the 21 Year old babysitter. the movie lost all credibility at that point, and i just about walked out. nobody in their right minds would turn down pieces like that. i sure wouldn’t. so this garbage for that reason alone (never mind the extensive product placement) is not worth seeing.