Watch Mr. Woodcock

Mr. Woodcock is a 2007 American sports comedy movie directed by Craig Gillespie and produced by Bob Cooper, David Dobkin, and Michael Flynn. The film stars Billy Bob Thornton as Jasper Woodcock, the sadistic and emotionally abusive gym teacher of a small town in Nebraska, named Forestview. The movie also features Seann William Scott as John Farley, a successful self-help author who returns to his hometown to receive an award, only to find out that his own boyhood trauma was caused by none other than Mr. Woodcock.

The movie begins as Farley returns to his hometown and is thrilled to find out that he is going to be honored with Forestview Elementary School's highest award. He is expecting to receive a warm welcome from the community, but his joy is short-lived as he discovers that his mother Beverly (Susan Sarandon) is dating his former gym teacher, Jasper Woodcock. Farley is horrified as he remembers the terrible time he had during his early years due to Mr. Woodcock's abusive and sadistic behavior towards him.

John decides to write a book on self-help after his father dies, where he talks about how to deal with bullies and become a better person. While promoting his book he returns to his home, where he falls for his high school crush, who is now a bartender. When he goes to the ceremony to receive his award, Farley is stunned to find that his former gym teacher, Mr. Woodcock, is the one presenting it to him.

As the ceremony unfolds, Farley finds himself being humiliated by Mr. Woodcock in front of the entire audience. Determined to confront him, Farley decides to take matters into his own hands and show the entire town how cruel and mean-spirited Mr. Woodcock is. However, this only results in Mr. Woodcock being fired from his job and left to his own devices.

As the movie progresses, John tries to reconcile with his mother, who is still dating Mr. Woodcock despite knowing how he treated her son in the past. Eventually, the two men engage in a series of escalating pranks against each other, leading to a series of comical mishaps.

The movie is a funny take on how childhood trauma can shape a person and how facing one's fear and standing up to bullies can be therapeutic. It is a heartwarming story about how someone who was once a victim can overcome their fears and take control of their life.

The movie's actors deliver top-notch performances, with Thornton's portrayal of the despicable Mr. Woodcock being both humorous and cringe-worthy. Sarandon, who plays John Farley's mother, adds an emotional depth to the storyline with her own mixed feelings towards Mr. Woodcock. Scott delivers a great performance as the victim-turned-successful author who seeks revenge.

Overall, Mr. Woodcock is a feel-good movie that will have viewers laughing and cheering on the hero. It is a lighthearted comedy that deals with serious issues like bullying and emotional trauma in a meaningful way. The movie is perfect for anyone looking for a light comedy to watch with friends and family.

Mr. Woodcock is a 2007 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 41.