Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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The edgy Farrelly brothers are back and their new offering is "Hall Pass." Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis star as Rick and Fred, two married guys who constantly scope out women and fantasize about what it would be like to be free to ply their charms on the opposite sex.
Of course their wives are aware of the "boys will be boys" factor, but when a raunchy poker night conversation is overheard on a baby monitor, Rick's wife Maggie (Jenna Fischer) hits the wall. Maggie shares the conversation with Fred's wife Grace (Christina Applegate) and the ladies decide to take radical step and give the boys a hall pass -- a week off from marriage, no questions asked, so they can get it all out of their system.
What we have is a disarrayed free-for-all with everything gross, lewd and disgusting as fair game.
At first the boys are suspicious, but when they're assured that this is the real deal and they're free to do what they may, they decide to go crazy. Word spreads to their buddies, and those that don't have the hall pass want to be spectators.
Of course things do not unfold into the fantasies the boys have nurtured since they tied the knot. Something else that hasn't dawned on the boys and, honestly hadn't even fully dawned on the women when the deal was struck, is that the girls have a hall pass too. Ah, the plot thickens and in many ways the opportunities for the women are much more plentiful.
The Farrellys have simply let this film go over the edge. "Hall Pass" doesn't even compensate with a crisp script or an outstanding performance. Sadly, even the attempt at a little redemption in the final scenes sputters. If any restraint at all had been utilized this might have had a shot at being one of those very guilty pleasures. But since the brothers totally let go of the reins, what we have is a disarrayed free-for-all with everything gross, lewd and disgusting as fair game.
The Farrelly brothers are capable of making a good, yet edgy movie like "Something About Mary." "Hall Pass" isn't one of them. I hated this film and am giving it a total turkey. Zero stars and it is definitely rated R.
