Director Walt Becker
Touchstone Pictures
1 Paw
Forget the mildly funny commercials that make you think to yourself, “Well, maybe I’ll see that if I have nothing better to do this weekend.” Don’t be fooled: the funniest parts of the film were all used in the previews. “Wild Hogs” is nothing but a pathetic attempt on the parts of Tim Allen and John Travolta to salvage what is left of their oh-so-10-years-ago careers.
Directed by Walt Becker (“Van Wilder”), the film takes place in a little suburban town where four unconvincing and mismatched friends decide they are bored with their humdrum lives.
Although they have jobs and other responsibilities, Woody (Travolta), convinces his friends (Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy) to take a spur-of-the-moment motorcycling trip.
Throughout their road trip, the crew’s wacky adventures include setting a tent on fire, destroying their cell phones, and swimming naked in a pond.
They then encounter a “real” motorcycle gang, the Del Fuegos. The gang’s leader (Ray Liotta, “Identity”) instantly dislikes them, and the friends spend the rest of the film trying not to get beaten up.
But fear not for our band of middle-aged men, because in the end they are saved by the power of friendship. Peter Fonda, the greatest biker of them all (absent from the film until this point), magically appears out of nowhere and tells the other bikers to leave the foursome alone.
This film has far more swear words, marijuana references and gay jokes than any family film should ever have. And yet, many of the film’s morals (friendship is the greatest adventure of all, learn to appreciate what you have, blah blah blah) are reminiscent of the Tim Allen films we grew up watching.
In other words, “Wild Hogs” is both inappropriate and cliche. Then again, your 10-year-old cousin might find it hilarious.
Ultimately, though, anyone hoping to see “Wild Hogs” this weekend is better off going to the zoo.