Review: Wild Hogs
Rated by 3 members
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this comedy adventure isn't as
kid-friendly as the previews suggest. The four middle-aged
friends who set out on the central road trip use plenty of
adult expletives, and the genuine biker gang they butt heads
with is full of slapsticky violent, tattoo-covered hog riders
out to punish the "suburban a--holes" posing as bikers. And
then there are all homophobic jokes and double entendres -- not
to mention the scatological possibilities of four men taking on
the great outdoors. Be prepared for a lot of gay, poop, and pee
jokes.
Families can talk about what the four friends learned about themselves and each other on their road trip. Why was the trip so important to Woody? How was Woody misleading his pals? Why didn't Doug's son consider him cool until the end of the movie? Why was Bobby afraid of his wife? How did Dudley act bravely despite his geeky personality? Ask kids to explain how the guys proved their friendship to each other. What other movies does this one remind you of? What's the appeal of "road trip movies"?
Common Sense Media Review
The four stars of WILD HOGS are all talented comedic actors,
which is why it's disappointing -- if not surprising -- that
this buddy flick isn't funnier.
John
Travolta leads the pack as Woody, a man his friends think
has it all: money, looks, and a supermodel wife. But he's
actually broke and about to get divorced. Desperate for a
last-ditch way to rekindle better times, Woody convinces his
motorcycle pals -- henpecked husband Bobby (
Martin
Lawrence), bored dentist Doug (
Tim
Allen), and computer-geek bachelor Dudley (
William
H. Macy) -- to take a road trip.
Along the way, the guys do plenty of middle-aged male bonding. Highlights include dealing with eco-friendly Dudley after he carries his own poop, accidentally burning down their own tent, sleeping next to each other on a small inflatable bed, getting mistaken for gay partners, freaking out a picnicking family while skinny dipping, peeing in tandem by the side of the road. and enraging a group of hardcore bikers led by a heavily tattooed Ray Liotta (who never fails to please in angry-man roles).
It's no spoiler to reveal that Woody, Doug, Bobby, and Dudley end up going mano a mano with Liotta's crusty crew (which includes M.C. Gainey, who will be familiar to any Lost fan as fake-bearded Other Zeke/Tom). By the time (spoiler alert!) an original Easy Rider appears to set everyone straight, it's more than obvious how much of a generational shift has occurred since that iconic late '60s anthem: Now even those guys would be drinking mocha lattes and missing their Blackberrys.
If you decide to join the fellas on their trip, stick around for a surprise treat at the end -- one that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition fans will especially appreciate. It's one of the funniest moments in the movie; too bad it came so late.
For better on-the-road comedies, try National Lampoon's Vacation , Road Trip , and even The Muppet Movie . And for classic midlife-crisis humor, don't miss City Slickers.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
