'Wild Hogs' trade reviews - 2/26/07

[ALIASd]

'Wild Hogs'

Bottom Line: The fun comedic turns by the starry quartet partly makes up for the predictable broad humor of this vulgar road comedy

By Frank Scheck
The Hollywood Reporter
Feb 27, 2007

The onscreen chemistry demonstrated by the likable performers goes a long way toward overcoming the film's mechanical and distasteful aspects.

NEW YORK -- With its clever premise and quartet of appealing comedic star turns, "Wild Hogs" is a step above the typical comedies rolling off the assembly lines of the major studios. Unfortunately, though it gets off to a promising beginning, the film soon degenerates into typical slapstick silliness that, while it should prove crowd-pleasing, squanders its considerable comedic potential.

Demonstrating the sort of star teaming that the Walt Disney Co. employed so successfully in the 1980s, the film stars Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy as four middle-age buddies who confront the crises involving their professional and home lives by donning leather jackets and taking off on their motorcycles for a cross-country road trip.

Full review at http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...3194&&rid=8858

New U.S. Release

Wild Hogs

By Dennis Harvey
Variety
February 26, 2007

John Travolta, left, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy and Tim Allen are self-styled outlaws in Buena Vista comedy 'Wild Hogs.'

A Buena Vista release of a Touchstone Pictures presentation of a Tollin/Robbins production. Produced by Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Todd Lieberman. Executive producers, Sharla Sumpter Ridgett, Amy Sayres. Directed by Walt Becker. Screenplay, Brad Copeland.

Doug Madsen - Tim Allen
Woody Stevens - John Travolta
Bobby Davis - . Martin Lawrence
Dudley Frank - William H. Macy
Jack - Ray Liotta
Maggie - Marisa Tomei
Red - Kevin Durand
Murdock - M. C. Gainey
Kelly Madsen - Jill Hennessy
Billy Madsen - Dominic Janes
Karen Davis - Tichina Arnold
Charley - Stephen Tobolowsky

Male menopause spews a lot of exhaust in "Wild Hogs," a high-concept middlebrow comedy with Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy as staid suburbanites who decide to discover America a la "Easy Rider." Peter Fonda actually turns up in the closing reel, yet one suspects fictive Captain America is spinning somewhere in his off-highway grave. Uninspired script and broad slapstick yuks won't earn this any plaudits, but slick, safe package should do OK with North American mall auds. Offshore appeal is likely to be weaker, though ancillary action in most territories will be solid.

Full review at http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117...ryid=1263&cs=1

[ALIASd]

Disney's Soda Fountain & Studio Store overun by 'Wild Hogs':


GOING HOG WILD

John Travolta and Martin Lawrence give each other a man hug at the Hollywood premiere of their road-trip comedy, Wild Hogs, on Tuesday. Arriving on a Harley, Travolta told PEOPLE he couldn't relate to his character's midlife crisis because he does "so many things and go so many places through my job that life doesn't ever get boring."

CREDIT: Kevin Winter/Getty
PEOPLE.com
PUBLISHED: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2007 06:00 AM EST
UPDATED: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2007 02:00 PM EST
http://www.people.com/people/gallery...3597_7,00.html

[wolfy]

Can hardly wait to see this......can relate, age and bikes!

[sailerm]

The only thing that has me concerned about this film is how they have released blooper reels as trailers, as if to say "the only funny parts are the out takes"