Visitors Review

Karla Steinberg (2012-05-25 14:22)

Vulgar and disgusting

This movie seemed desperate to go "over the top" to shock. Pretty disgusting to see a grown man take a ***** in a sand trap, and see how long you want to stare at a man's 12 inch penis. I've seen alot, and we found this movie NOT funny but vulgar, crude and stupid!

Dan Gear (2012-05-25 04:02)

There were some scenes early in the film where I couldn't catch every second joke because the audience was laughing so hard.

(2012-05-24 04:27)

Surprisingly enjoyable.

Some comedies sneak up on you. You think they're going to be brilliant and then they fall flat, or you think they're going to be stale and vulgar and end up being delightfully complex. The latter is the case with HALL PASS. It's a relatively simple premise: two middle-aged men get "hall passes" from their wives, which means they get to spend a week being single. Predictable shenanigans ensue: horrendous pick-up attempts; gross-out gags; dick jokes; drug and booze binges; a redemptive finale. And yet, HALL PASS manages to carve something original. Not only do Rick and Fred get a week off, but so do their wives--and therein lies much of the depth of the film. Granted, we're not talking a masterpiece here--it's the Farrelly Brothers for crying out loud, and note the absence of two stars in this review. HALL PASS isn't transcendental of its buddy-raunchy film genre; it falls victim to the same flaws, the same generic traps. Yet, there is something in this film that makes it better than much of its ilk. Putting your thumb on exactly WHAT that saving grace is can be tricky, though.The casting is definitely a plus. Owen Wilson is in good form--he can hit or miss, and here he mostly hits. So to does Jason Sudeikis, despite some rather flat writing for his character. The casting of their wives is truly inspired: the pairing of comedy veterans Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate is utterly delightful, and provides an emotional depth that would otherwise be missing (she's typecast, but darn if Applegate doesn't have great dramatic chops as well). Perhaps the truly original thing here, at least the part that makes the film stand out from its peers, is how it tackles middle age. These aren't young AMERICAN PIE frat boys; these are over-the-hill, settled-down, one-beer-a-week dads who have been given a chance to sow their wild oat. HALL PASS isn't great, and it's heavily flawed--but yes, it may just surprise you a little, which in this day and age is cause for celebration.

Jim Slotek (2012-05-23 23:47)

When I say that Hall Pass is one of the Farrelly brothers' sloppier movies, I'm not just talking about their penchant for flinging bodily fluids around and calling it comedy.

ChipperX (2012-05-22 19:53)

You WILL Laugh - Even after the Credits Roll.

"Hall Pass", the latest movie from the Farrelly brothers starring OwenWilson (Rick) and Jason Sudeikis (Fred), is a raunchy comedy thatserves up "distasteful" humor. The movie has an intended audience:People (male and female) who enjoy raunchy, racy, "dirty" comedy. Ifyou laughed until you cried while watching "There's Something AboutMary", then you will most likely appreciate this flick. If you thought"Dumb And Dumber" was just plain stupid, then you will probably notenjoy "Hall Pass".The Premise: Two married, middle-aged men, Rick (Wilson) and Fred(Sudeikis) are in loving but sexually-unexciting marriages. Theyportray the typical horny male with sex on the brain who ogles womenfrequently.They believe their wandering eyes are clandestine, butunfortunately they are caught scoping chicks by their wives, played byJenna Fischer (Maggie) and Christina Applegate (Grace). After the wiveswitness a few cringe-worthy scenes of male libido gone wild withintheir husbands, they are encouraged by their friend, a therapist, toallow the men a "week off" from marriage to cure their wanderlust. The Execution: "Hall Pass" is not an Oscar-worthy movie - nor is itincredibly original. The stars do not deliver Shakespearean-levelperformances. What you get is exactly what the trailers promise: Adesperately funny, sad, tragic and raunchy comedy that both entertainsand enlightens. The opening scenes which set up the movie's premise arefresh and raucous - look for the scene involving the "Stepford" familyand their safe-room video cameras. I actually learned a new lexiconwhich, I am sure, will become popular amongst my Facebook friends: "BigMouth Vagina", "Fake Chow," and "Oversexed Bobble-head". Also, witnessthe quiet desperation of Wilson (Rick) and Sudeikis (Fred) as they oglethe coffee house barrista. The second act of the movie is pretty dirty- and quite laughable. I will not give anything away, here - not everyjoke in the movie is razor sharp or fresh, and some of it is a bitstale. However, you certainly get what you paid for - a few moments ofdiamond-hard nastiness so crude you might never have imagined ityourself. Whether it was intentional or not, the movie succeeds and / or fails inthe over-the-hill physical presentation of the couples. Wilson andSudeikis looked slightly old and fat, while Fischer and Applegatelooked slightly pale and fine-line wrinkly. I understand that themovie's premise revolves around middle-aged couples, but I did notreally enjoy the stars' tired-looking appearance - why could they nothave been portrayed as older-but-still-sexy? Applegate as Grace isreally the only married character who looked like she still keptherself up. This, of course, is only a minor quibble - the directorsobviously felt that a bit of paunch and wrinkle was necessary to makethe characters more believable.The third act of "Hall Pass" offers a satisfactory conclusion to thiscautionary tale. Rick and Fred are able to rejoin Maggie and Graceafter realizing that they did indeed already have everything theyneeded to enjoy happy unions with their spouses. Pay close attention,here: There are a few unpredictable, surprising moments which make themovie well-worth seeing and definitely elevate the film within itsshock-humor genre. Is this a bit of a "Hollywood" ending? You bet it is- but in this age of common infidelity and skyrocketing divorce, I feelthe conclusory message of the movie is quite poignant, and yes -uplifting. The characters each learn "hard" lessons which willhopefully strengthen their unions for years to come (pun intended). Final Credits Scene Alert: Many people, after viewing the movie in thetheater, will rise from their seats and hurry out to continue theirlives as the credits begin to roll. STOP! Don't do it! One hilariousscene and one humorous out-take remains - much like the final scene in"The Hangover". Do yourself a favor and stay until the credits haveCOMPLETELY finished. This is becoming more and more common in movies -pivotal sequel clues and codas are now frequently left in the finalcredits. I don't mind this at all - for me, the movie is not finisheduntil the credits have stopped rolling.Final Recommendation: While some people may feel that the humor in"Hall Pass" is over the top, I must respectfully disagree. You go intoa movie of this type with your eyes wide open, and the trailers allpoint to one thing - one heck of a "dirty" movie. There shouldn't beanyone who knows anything about the premise of this movie who feelscheated because you get exactly what you pay for: Hilariously concoctedset-piece after set-piece of trashy, low-brow hi-jinx. With respect toexecution of raunchy comedy, the Farrelly brothers deliver in high,grotesque style. Anyone seeing a movie at the theater can expect somelevel of predictability. The really good movies deliver unexpectedsurprises and plot twists that leave you talking for a few days. "HallPass", in my humble opinion, is that type of movie."Hall Pass" delivers a splendid menu of delicious depravity for theaudience to digest. If you do not like this type of sexual comedy, thenplease wait for your friends to see it instead, and get the storysecond-hand from them - but I am sure that they will summarize themovie with knowing, private smiles on their faces and wicked gleams intheir eyes.Concept: 10 out of 10 Stars. Execution: 9 out of 10 Stars. OverallRating: 10 out of 10 Stars.- ChipperX.

psgalvanek (2012-05-22 08:04)

Hollywood blows it again.

How could this movie not be funny, right? One might be tempted to thinkthis if they forget that Hollywood can't seem to make anything thesedays, especially comedies, that isn't tainted by their biases andagendas.Yes Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis offer up some funny moments andbecause of it the movie is just bearable but they're wrapped up inHollywood's typical Bizarro World of life in middle America, marriage,men and women and how they relate.In Hollywood's twisted alternate reality women are all gorgeous, thin,intelligent, articulate, progressive, long suffering, deeplyintrospective creatures held back by their stupid, wing/rib gobbling,beer swilling, farting, slob husbands whose entire scope of knowledgeand life experience consists of sports and internet porn. In thisHollyworld whether a woman is a scrawny, bleach blonde 40 year old with"wings" developing under arms and enough pancake to feed a third worldcountry hiding her neck wrinkles (Chrinstina Applegate) or a 38 yearold with three kids including one on her hip (Jenna Fischer) they'reall beauties that stud guys of all ages are desperate to be intimatewith and could be were they not burdened by their moron husbands andtheir superior sense of morality.Only Hollywood could create a story in this fictional world and manageto take the one person who violates her marriage vows out of group ofpeople flirting with attempting to do so and make her the sympatheticcharacter.Summary: a few minutes of funny gags buried in the Hollywood templateof men = bad women = perfect marriage = misery.

Lisa Giles-Keddie (2012-05-21 07:28)

Heavily relies on cheap stereotypes to bolster the laughs ... Expect the expected, and you'll snigger with laughter.

(2012-05-20 12:54)

Every Married Man's Dream

This review is from: Hall Pass (Amazon Instant Video) Parts of this movie could be just too real, but if I had the chance I'd use my hall pass and make my wife participate. She'd never cook up a hall pass again.Or, would she? Hmmm.

paul (2012-05-19 14:07)

dead on arrival

the worst comedy in awhile same old jokes the rating board shouldnt let x-rated penis close ups shots to be allowed if its was a women in the same position that would never be allowed double standerds as usualif they want to shock people show a woman like that

Charles Koplinski (2012-05-19 04:49)

Farrellys explore familiar themes in Pass.

(2012-05-18 18:14)

lamest movie ever

this movie is for people over 40 who are married and are not happy with their marriage. has to be the stupidest movie ever made. don't not recomend buying. if you want to buy it, email me and ill trade it for blue ray transformers one. azboarder23@ yahoo.com

(2012-05-18 05:45)

Dont Listen To Those Other People

This movie is funny! along the lines of superbad funny. It's got a solid plot,good actors, good soundtrack & adult humor. At first I thought I wasn'tgoing to laugh because let's face it, owen wilson is NOT funny but from beginningto end I was laughing. Good movie worth checking out!

Owen Gleiberman (2012-05-18 01:20)

Hall Pass, a light comedy of horny marital woe from directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly, makes a novel statement about the sex wars: It says that they're essentially over. And that the guys - in case there was any lingering suspense about it - have lost.

Betty Jo Tucker (2012-05-17 21:42)

An over emphasis on 'raunchy' at the expense of humor takes its toll on this disappointing raunch-com from the Farrelly brothers.

Rex Reed (2012-05-17 09:16)

Not only disgusting and unendurable, but filthy and boring, too.

James (2012-05-16 10:34)

A awesome and funny movie, the best comedy!!!

I just went and say hall pass and its a great movie. I laughed so hard when i was watching it. It has great actors, great story, and are alot of funny ass parts. I would definetely go see it again. If you are looking for a good comedy then go see hall pass, its a great date movie and a great movie if you are married. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.

Nigel Andrews (2012-05-16 09:58)

The film-making Farrelly brothers have striven for 12 years to re-establish the hysteria frequency of There's Something About Mary.

Marshall Fine (2012-05-16 04:38)

If you go in with low expectations, you can't help but be pleasantly surprised. The value of its huge laughs shouldn't be underestimated.

Glenn Lovell (2012-05-15 05:50)

"Hall Pass," actually shot in Georgia, boasts the production values of public access TV. The masturbation / marijuana jokes aren't worthy of a Farrelly outtakes reel.

(2012-05-14 21:50)

Hilarious

Humor is a bit crude but if you are good with that then this movie is funny. I laughed my %$$ off.