Hall Pass Synopsis: Rick and Fred, two husbands who are having difficulty in their marriages, are given a Hall Pass by their wives: for one week, they can do whatever they want.
After overhearing their husbands, Fred and Rick, discussing missing their single days, Grace and Maggie give them each a “hall pass” for one week, essentially giving them a week to do whatever they want without any consequences. The two men accept but find that being single isn’t as easy or glamorous as it used to be.
I was prepared to enjoy this movie with Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis in the lead roles. Christina Applegate and Jenna Fisher? Bonuses! And yes, I have been disappointed by the Farrelly Brothers lately, but… hey, I liked There’s Something About Mary, so surely it’s possible that this would be decent, yes?
… unfortunately, no.
While Hall Pass is not as terrible as The Heartbreak Kid, it’s neither great nor good. It’s mostly just fine. While it would be easy to view this movie as just another sex comedy dumping on marriage, it has a pretty decent message regarding fidelity and commitment. The problem is, it’s just not that funny. A lot of the humor feels recycled from earlier Farrelly films, only tamer, despite this being an R-rated comedy.
Fred and Rick can be goofy dumbasses, but they’re not exactly what I would call unlikeable. Yes, it’s amusing watching them embarrass themselves – though it really only seems to be Sudeikis’s Fred who continually strikes out while hitting on women – but you know they’re not going to cross that line. They’re not those types of guys, despite all their talk. So, there are no real stakes here. Just mindless humor that mainly falls flat.
Hall Pass was a disappointment, but I will rate it higher than The Heartbreak Kid because of the cast and the fact that the characters weren’t as terrible. That doesn’t mean I would recommend it. If you want classic Farrelly Bros., go with There’s Something About Mary or Fever Pitch.
Watched: 03/09/2023
Notable Song: Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol
