Svalvolati on the road

Four guys in their late forties - probably more early fifties ... ;-) – go through their midlife crisis. No matter if loving, nagging or no wife, life is just not what it used to be – or ever was. Adventures are searched for, and John Travolta (not acting his best in this movie) has the saving idea for his buddies: a real road trip on their bikes instead of their usual short trip to a biker bar once a week.

Like in "City Slickers" the men have to go through some adventures and become heroes before they emerge with new energy to battle the next years of getting older ... however, the adventures these guys have on their trip are hilarious. The end slows down a bit with its predictability but this movie is very entertaining, funny and the ticket money well worth.

I attended a pre-release screening of the movie in Philadelphia, and I went in expecting a lot of zany sequences, funny violence and a truckload of laughs, and I wasn't disappointed.

Messrs. Travolta, Allen, Lawrence and Macy fit their parts well, and while the story doesn't demand a lot from the actors, they are good as middle-aged professionals tired of their boring lives. The film's theme is a road-trip across America on Harley-Davidson's, with leather jackets ("Wild Hogs" is what they call themselves) and all the other paraphernalia. The whole movie is littered with stereotypes and clichéd characters and plots, and this lends an air of predictability to it. Some people might say that it's closer to an animation, given the generous helpings of crashes and falls, but then I didn't find it to be a put-off because it doesn't pretend to be an action film. You fall, you look funny, you get back up, and story moves on.

At the outset, I thought that there might be a resemblance to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with it's concept of two tired guys out to discover the American Dream, but it isn't so. The humour is rib-tickling at times, and mostly slapstick. Among individual performances, nobody really steals the screen, but the overall chemistry between the Wild Hogs is good. Ray Liotta plays the bad guy with an overdose of menace, and Marisa Tomei did a good job of looking pretty. Some of the cinematography is breathtaking, but for a road trip across America, there was very little of variety in location.

I won't advise spending $15 on it in a theater, but it'll be a fun watch with friends, when the DVD comes out, much like how I would judge Eurotrip.

I know it's a cliché, but this is a "must see movie". It was the shortest 99 minutes I have ever spent watching a movie. Ninety-nine minutes without a let-up or a let-down. Ninety-nine minutes of hilarity. Even thought this movie was funny, it also had redeeming values! We get to learn that men who thought they were wimps discover they have a pair of balls. The rules say this review must be at least ten lines. Ten lines are not really necessary for this action/comedy. It was fast. It was funny. Go see it. I guess I've got to add more lines to get this qualified. You will see a side of John Travolta that you haven't seen before. The same with William Macey. Tim Allen was Tim Allen and Martin Lawrence was Martin Lawrence. Ray Liota, as always, was great. And Marisa Tomei as beautiful as ever. Go see it.

18 August 2007. Even though there were few discontinuities, explanatory scenes left out, overall this movie is one of the more hilarious and funny movies of the year. It manages to maintain its sense of bewildering, humorous sight gags. William Macy is great, being the classic but sophisticated computer nerd while John Travolta gets to show off some of his breadth of both comedic and drama acting. This movie one of the best smooth endings into the credits and a satisfyingly decent if not completely believable twist. There is the typical macho, middle age man crises along the lines of "City Slickers." However, in this movie there is a better blending of home and family, interaction with the motorcycle gang Wildhogs as well as more social interaction with other characters. Presenting a performance and script above expectations, eight out of Ten Stars.

I would have given this movie a 10 had it not had Martin Lawrence in it. I think they should have gotten Cuba Gooding Jr. To play the part of Bobby. He is much funnier than Lawrence. Lawrence's character is the same in every single part he plays...it has grown weary, old and not funny. I love the idea of older guys heading out on the open road. As a motorcycle owner and rider it put a smile on my face. Liotta as the gang leader was perfect. R. I. P. Mr. Liotta... I will miss you deeply on the big screen. If you don't like this movie you have never been on the open road and have no sense of humor :) It's a wonderful movie.