Here is what has happened. It has had the usual, obligatory over-hype by the studio, ie, “the funniest movie of the year”...bad. It stars many very bankable actors, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen, William H. Macy, Marisa Tomei, Ray Liotta, and yes, Peter Fonda...good. Wild Hogs has gotten very luke warm to terrible reviews...bad. It’s a very appealing, fun, lighthearted movie that is doing well at the box office...good.The bottom line is that folks have been going to see it...and enjoying it! Isn’t that the true gauge of a movie? That audiences enjoyed it?
We went to see it last weekend on Saturday afternoon, a rare movie-going time frame for us. We’re usually sitting in a huge theater on a Monday morning with seven other people in the theater. This time, the theater was full, both of them that were showing Wild Hogs. And...the audience really got into it, ie, laughed a lot and applauded at the end! It was a cute, at times funny, movie in a theater audience of oldsters (like us), families with kids, and youngins (so-called Gen-Xers) who all seemed to be enjoying this over-maligned Disney flick. Yes, it is a Disney flick.
There are many contrived moments (duh...it’s a friggin’ movie)...some “forced” comedy...a few scenes where those “big stars” seemed out of place...and, for my dollar, was not a hysterical movie. You won't soil yourself while laughing. It’s no Woody Allen/Martin Scorcese/David Fincher/Nora Ephron meaningful, thoughtful, transcendent, smartly-comedic, life-altering experience. It’s just a fun flick with a somewhat predictable, heartwarming ending...nothing more! Why it has been so put upon by so many self-absorbed, hoity-toity, over-analyzing movie critics is beyond my comprehension. Until someone writes and produces The Graduate meets The Departed meets Sideways, this kind of movie will always incur the critical wrath of artsy-fartsy movie goers. In fact, most of the people I know who have poo-pooed Wild Hogs...didn’t even go see it! On the other hand, all of the people I know who did go see it...loved it.
For some of us, the mere presence of Marisa Tomei is enough to plunk down the $6.50 for a bargain ticket. She looks great and fit in well with the other recognizables. And...Mr. Motorcycle Rebel himself, Peter Fonda, drops in at the last moment for an appearance as Ray Liotta’s father. Yes, Ray Liotta is in Wild Hogs as well, doing a great job as a comedic-parody of a tough guy biker...pretty much poking fun at his past movie personnas.
I really don’t recommend Wild Hogs for anyone expecting something more than it is. Don’t even waste your money. You will not enjoy it. In fact, it will validate your preconceived perception of this movie...a movie that isn’t your bag in the first place. But, if you have not formulated any prejudices yet, ie, from some of the reviews or, by proxy, haven’t already decided it is not meaningful enough for your tastes...check it out. If not in the theater, Netflix it in a few months.
Of course, Loretta and I were a bit prejudiced in favor of Wild Hogs when the trailers first hit the theaters. We are middle-aged, Harley-riding, John Travolta fans. Bingo!
But, you don’t have to be wearing a set of genuine Harley riding chaps to find Wild Hogs a very satisfying way to spend two hours.
