When asked about my favorite film so far of 2011, it takes me a minute to think. Due to my hectic schedule of attempting to survive while unemployed, becoming more active and involved in my church, keeping up with my writing projects, and maintaining a household, I have had little to no time to see a movie. Not only because of the cost of seeing it in a theatre, but finding the time to sit down and watching something for a minimum of an hour and a half. But since I am a loyal fan of the Farrelly brothers ever since I saw their first movie at the age of 13 (and one of my personal guilty pleasures) Dumb and Dumber, I knew I could set aside the time to watch this comedy.
Hall Pass, starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, and The Office’s Jenna Fischer, arrived in theatres this year as has become an annual custom of the brothers who have rarely delivered a disappointing movie, with the exception of Say It Isn’t So. According to imdb.com, the basis of this film is when “a married man (Wilson) is granted the opportunity to have an affair by his wife (Fischer). Joined in the fun by his best pal (Sudeikis), things get a little out of control when both wives (Fischer and Applegate) start engaging in extramarital activities as well.”
Similar to Kingpin and There’s Something About Mary, I knew I would be entertained by something original and unpredictable which unfortunately has become the fate of too many television shows and movies. Even though you can expect some scenes of vulgarity which include the conversation between Wilson and Sudeikis in their friend’s house or when Sudeikis is caught doing “something” in his vehicle, it wouldn’t be a Farrelly brother’s movie without those because they are embarrassing if we were ever caught in those situation which the characters were. But what I enjoy the most is that even though you expect the guys to at some point cheat on their wives while they stand back and watch, the tables are turned and the wives can see the consequences of their decision to give their husbands a “hall pass.” Because of this twist, both sides learn from their actions, especially Applegate’s character, and even a humorous hypothetical “what if” from their British friend during the ending credits.