Sidewalks On The Corner

"Wild Hogs" is a road trip comedy starring John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy and Tim Allen with supporting players Marisa Tomei, Jill Hennessy, and Ray Liotta. Hosts Cindy Rhodes and Richard R. Lee each saw the film and give their own reviews.

Follow up:

Cindy Rhodes' Review:
This comedy-adventure is about a group of middle-aged friends who decide to rev up their routine suburban lives with a freewheeling motorcycle trip. Taking a much needed breather from their stressful jobs and family responsibilities, they can’t wait to feel the freedom of the open road. That is, until they meet up with the Del Fuegos, a real-life biker gang who are not amused at their weekend warrior “biker gang.”

This film has plenty of laughs and family friendly entertainment with a PG-13 rating. Macy, who plays Dudley, is a stand-out as an underdog “Computer Geek,” a poor, clumsy soul whose life is a series of mis-steps. Also a standout in the cast is Liotta, who portrayed Jack, a deliciously evil and reckless Leader of the Del Fuego’s.

I was disappointed in John Travolta, who plays Woody. I was not moved by his portrayal of a bankrupt husband whose wife just left him. Perhaps if there was better dialogue, he might have made me believe. Of course, as in every film that Travolta appears in, there was the gratuitous scene where he breaks out his dancing shoes. Will somebody tell the producers that JT doesn’t have to dance in every film he makes – YES he is a good dancer! Another forgettable performance was Tim Allen. I did not see much purpose for him in the role? He blended into the background and ultimately became insignificant to the plot. He is a talented comedian that was truly under-utilized.

Playing Bobby, I felt Martin Lawrence was somewhat reprising his old TV character Martin (most notably his scenes with Tichina Arnold, the actress who played Pamela James on Lawrence' old Fox sitcom and his wife in "Wild Hogs"), but, somehow, you just don’t tire of his shtick. I thought he was funny and added some comedic touches in the typical Martin Lawrence-style.

The supporting cast of Hennessy (TV’s Crossing Jordan) and Tomei rounded things out nicely. All in all – you will laugh out loud and have a good time even with a few mis-steps.

Richard R. Lee Review:
I saw the Touchstone Pictures film with my co-host Cindy Rhodes. Our takes of the film are a little different, but we both would agree the movie is funny and an enjoyable 1 hour 39 minute viewing.

As Ms. Rhodes said in her review, the four middle-aged guys go on a cross-country trip on their Harleys, while leaving their respective wives and troubles behind. They find odd adventures while camping, going skinny dipping (beware, one of the stars has a back side nude scene), resting at a motorcycle bar and meeting the Del Fuegos gang, running out of gas, and stopping in the small town of Madrid, where the second half of the film takes place.

I was afraid that this comedy was going to be a major bomb -- great casting doesn't make a great film -- but It was their male bonding that at times worked and some other times didn’t. No matter what, I think the casting of John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy was incredible. They had good chemistry together, especially Macy, who should be the surprise breakout character in the film as the inept Dudley. Even though you have two real-life standup comedians in the mix, Macy shows off his comedic chops.

Although I agree with Cindy Rhodes on Travolta’s Woody character wasn’t as convincing as he could be as a man who lost his wife and money (the back story was only briefly described), I feel that each of the four leads had a chance to standout in various scenes. There are many "hey that person" cameos in the film, with familiar TV faces from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, American Chopper, Lost, Crossing Jordan, Martin, and Barney Miller, as well as an appearance by John C. McGinley, who regularly plays Dr. Perry Cox on NBC’s Scrubs, as a gay motorcycle cop and Loveline's' Dr. Drew Pinsky as a ... (drum roll) doctor. Oscar® winner Marisa Tomei ("My Cousin Vinny") doesn't do much in the film as the main female lead, except for being a potential love interest for one of the guys and the bar owner, whose place of business, of course, is the central location for a showdown.

First time screenplay writer Brad Copeland, a TV writer for Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl, Grounded for Life and NewsRadio, crafts a script that gives the characters some simple and easy to follow along escapades, while director Walter Becker, best known for directing the 2002 comedy film "Van Wilder," did a good job in giving each headling actor almost equal time for their respective moments in the film.

The main point: I laughed throughout the film, as well as the movie goers I saw it with. I can't think of any major negatives in the film (there will be some viewers out there who will complain about the gay character and the homophobic situation), but, to me, you have likable actors ... and likable fun. "Wild Hogs" is truly one of the better comedies in recent months; watching this movie shouldn’t make you feel you lost the $12 admission. Enjoy the ride with the guys from “Wild Hogs.”