User Reviews (211)

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  • Warning: Spoilers
    Now we have a quite original movie here. Funny movie and very realistic about a couple of men who are married, and their wives invent a hall pass so their men can do whatever they want for a week. For a week they are not married.

    Without realizing that this is a both way street, two men are starting their week. But everything is different; they are much older than when they were at school. It is not easy to just meet a woman and take her to a motel. For women it is much easier to approach a guy.

    Owen Wilson is after a woman from the coffee shop. This Nicky Whelan is a very beautiful woman. When she was on screen I did not read the subtitles. Her beauty made her accent less annoying. And yes, Owen Wilson could resist her, even when she showed him her boobs. Yeah right. That was not realistic. The funny moments were with his friend, Jason Sudeikis. This guy came from the one funny scene into the other.

    I must say, hall pass is not just as funny as Dumb and dumber, but it is a funny movie. The most funny scene is at the closing credits where Stephen Merchant dreams about having a hall pass. I laughed my ass off! That was hilarious! When the makers of this movie would have made a whole movie just like this scene, they would have made the best funny movie ever. Too bad that it was only one scene. But I haven't laughed like this in a long time, thank you guys, thank you Stephen Merchant.

    Positive points: Great acting,original story, Nicky Whelan, closing credits scene, funny, entertaining. Negative points: Slow start, movie was not funny all the time due to the realistic aspects in the movie of the married situation. It slowed the movie down. Dumb and dumber was all the way funny, because nothing about that movie was real.
  • mattkratz2 May 2013
    This movie was about two married guys who get a "hall pass" from their marriages, granted from their wives. One of them is given to him voluntarily, the other one pretty much forces it out of her. They pretty much have a week to do "as they please" with other women as one of the wives has had enough with his "noticing" other women.

    While the idea is clever and decently executed, and there were some funny scenes and I liked the "Law & Order" spoof parts, I felt like the raunchy humor and "potty mouthed" jokes damaged it. While that could have helped in other films, it didn't really help here.

    The cast (especially the leads) was decent and worked well together. You might like this if you are a comedy fan.

    ** out of ****
  • This did make me laugh, one of those right movie at the right time scenarios because it really is pretty dumb. Lots of gross out raunchy humour thanks to the Farrelly brothers.

    The plot is nothing remarkable, predictable even but honestly that's not what I'm watching a movie like this for; following two best buds (Owen Wilson & Jason Sudeikis) who are granted permission to take a week off of marriage, only to realize that the reality of single life is not as appealing as they remember after bumbling in their efforts to "charm" women.

    A couple of scenes that I really laughed at were the girl "sneezing" into the bathtub and the gym-hot-tub-penis scene. Too funny. Yeah its a "naughty marriage comedy" that I'll probably watch again. 09.13
  • Seems that not everybody understood the plot. Maybe they were expecting a Vince Vaungh performance. First, the hall pass was given under a misinterpretation and overreaction. These guys were dorks and good husbands, not studs trapped in a marriage that missed their bachelor years. At the end, one of the wives recognizes that the one that needed that break was her, not the husband. If you were expecting a wild and crazy behavior after permission was granted, look for another stupid "guy flick" at Vegas. There were few clichés, like the use of pot and a shart (fart and diarrhea), but even the last one deserved a laugh. Good dorky movie, specially that Kevin James was not in it.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Comedies can be very unpredictable at times. It can manipulate you into a corner where they make out as if it's a great movie. Only to find out it was really dumb. Other times they'll com you into assuming it's repugnant and morally reprehensible only to find out in the end it's subliminally complex. "Hall Pass" falls in the latter category. The story is about as simple as screwing on a light bulb. Two middle-aged husbands (Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) are granted "hall passes" from their wives (Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate) which mean they are permitted one week freedom from parenthood. The predictable hoopla comes into place including those annoying catcalls to attractive women; morally deplorable juvenile gags, disgusting jokes around the male anatomy; lots of tiresome boozing and alcoholic binges and the overdone finale where our protagonist begs for redemption and usually has to make compromises in which they gladly oblige.

    But in a mysterious way, "Hall Pass" succeeds in offering something original behind the formulaic proceedings. Because not only do the guys get a week of parental liberty, so do their wives, which is a surprising turn of events that develops in this movie. Sure it's not a ground-breaking Oscar caliber movie, but it's still something that the Farrelly Brothers can be proud of as it's one of their best movie since "Wedding Crashers" which also starred Wilson and Vince Vaughn. It's not or ever will revolutionize the buddy film spectrum as the repetitive scenarios are all there. However, this film exceeds it's expectations from the comedy genre that most films of it's kind tends to fall flat.

    For one thing, the casting was very top notch. Owen Wilson's comical chops is in top form, as he soars through every scene he's in and never falls flat. Jason Sudeikis has his share of moments, although his character was at times hit or miss due to poor script work from his character. The wives roles add inspiration towards their performances as comedic legends Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate was a joy to watch and even as emotional traits that are often missing from female characters in comedy movies. Sure Applegate has played several roles like this before, but she shows here she can turn up the volume and show her dramatic side as well. What really sets this film is how it makes a serious undertaking of the trials and tribulations of being middle-aged. These characters aren't young punks placing their cajones in a hot dessert, no these people are career-oriented individuals, people who have matured physically and mentally, dads who have been through it all and who have seen it all. Sure it is not perfect, and the flaws are very obvious, but the moments delivered here will surely surprise you in which I will drink to that.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    The Farrelly Brothers have made some funny, entertaining comedies that include Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, and Fever Pitch. You can now add Hall Pass to that list.

    Hall Pass stars Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis as Rich and Fred, married guys who cannot help but notice many attractive women who come within ten feet of them. Maggie and Grace, the wives played by Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate, know how they are in the situations they put themselves through.

    In the story, their intentions take a turn for the worse as they make fun of the hosts of a party, as well as the private areas of other guests. They are caught on security camera with everyone else watching them make fools out of themselves. They leave the party with their frustrated wives who think that their husbands only think of sex.

    Maggie and Grace are given advice to give the men "Hall Passes", one week off from marriage for them to do whatever they want to. In other words, they can hook up with other girls, no harm, no foul. Maggie starts with Rich immediately and takes their kids away for that week. For Grace, it takes Fred jacking off in his car and being caught by the cops him to get his Hall Pass.

    As the story continues, Rich and Fred are off their game. At the same time, Maggie and Grace use the hall pass to their advantage to meet other guys. Maggie meets a local baseball coach, and Grace hooks up with a young baseball player.

    The guys don't get their game on until they meet and old friend named Coakley (played excellently by Richard Jenkins). Rich gets together with a girl named Leigh who works at a local coffee shop. Fred hooks up with the aunt of Rich's babysitter.

    Now where the story takes a dark turn relates to a guy named Brent who works at the same coffee shop. He thinks that Rich and Fred are both old perverts and that Rich is trying to steal Leigh any chances of Brent being with her. The twists involving him are there, and they are funny, but they are just explained and left alone.

    The acting of Wilson and Sudeikis is really funny as they are both believable as these married guys who check out other girls. Fischer and Applegate are both wonderful as their pretty wives who roll their eyes at what their husbands do. Jenkins is a laugh riot as the old friend of Wilson and Sudeikis as he knows every trick that the girls in the bar pull off.

    The Farrelly Brothers do a good job of making a fun story out of a situation that can really happen in today's world. They do great at making the movie continue to stay funny, despite that dark, but temporary turns it takes.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    These types of movies you can expect a certain level of humor and just chalk it up to funny and put in the rotation to watch down the road. I knew this movie would be middle of the road funny going in, but I didn't realize that it would be this bad going out. The whole compilation of the movie was lazy and looked like a rip-off of a Farrelly Brothers movie. They took a good idea and just ran it into the ground. The movie just looked like it was made up as they went along and with the credentials of some of the actors you would think that they would help but they just made it worse to watch. I thought it was way to long and was hoping it would end soon just to find that there were 30 minuets left and they still haven't begin to build up to the conclusion. The only thing that I found funny in this movie though is that you see more wiener than breast.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Look, i have read many reviews and many people are saying this movie is rubbish, boring etc.... i read those reviews before i watched the movie. I don't know why there are so many haters around this movie, but i thought it was very funny and entertaining.

    Sure, Owen Wilson will never be as good of an Actor he used to be, but i think this is the best you are going to see from him in a long while. I thought this movie had many funny moments and many parts i scratched my head over. If you enjoyed "The Hangover" i recommend this movie to you, if you think about it there quite similar. But if you didn't enjoy "The Hangover" and you are some general Comedy fan, i urge you to go see this movie.

    Not a bad film at all.
  • willdotcom794 January 2012
    I've never felt so repulsed by a film (and I've seen my fair share of festering turd piles) that I've had to create a movie review profile to warn the rest of human existence about this cinematic nightmare. The title for me, being from the UK, was misleading, the premise is woeful and the characters despicable. The only thing worse is the human, no cretin, who dreamt up this schizophrenic abomination.

    This movie doesn't know what it wants to be on an epic level. On one hand it's an "American Pie" type comedy, where you're laughing at how bad the situation has become for a character, and then it's attempting to be all grown up, emitting a deep emotive, heartfelt message about life, love and loss. It simply doesn't work.

    I would say it was aimed at teenagers, but what teen wants to watch middle aged guys hitting on young girls? It's cringe worthy beyond the extreme. I'm sad that I've watched this film and have found a new all time worst movie ever.
  • 'HALL PASS': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

    The Farrelly Brothers are well past their prime. Now in their 50's, they're much older than when they first broke on the scene with 'DUMB & DUMBER' seventeen years ago and had their biggest box office hit in 'THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY' thirteen years ago. They've lost some of their edge over the years, as well as originality, and now they've disguised this well intentioned tribute to the values of love and marriage as a guys gone wild party film. They're films have always had heart though and this film still has plenty of dick and fart jokes. The trailers may be misleading and it may not live up to their best films but it's a decent comedy flick with enough good laughs to please most Farrelly fans.

    The film stars Owen Wilson (who's past his prime as well) and Jason Sudeikis (of 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' fame) as two married men who are given a week pass to pretend like their not married and sleep with as many girls as they want. Their wives, played by Jenna Fischer (of 'THE OFFICE') and Christina Applegate, think that if they let their sex obsessed husbands get it out of their system their marriages might be better off because of it. They also realize, as the men do not, that they're not the guys they used to be and will most likely fail at picking up the young hot girls they think they can get (and it's definitely a challenge for them). Things get complicated when the women are hit on by other men while their husbands are out trying to get laid by other women.

    The film is directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly and written by the two as well as Kevin Barnett and Pete Jones (who the Farrelly Brothers purchased the original script from back in 2005). Pete Jones was the first winner of the Project Greenlight film project and his films before this have both been religious themed. So it's no surprise that the film has a very pro-marriage conservative message. I personally liked the theme of the movie and the characters and about half the jokes. Some jokes of course fall flat and some of the emotional drama is a little over done as well. Of course parts of the film are over the top but that's to be expected. Wilson and especially Sudeikis are great in the leads and the supporting cast is all impressive as well (including Richard Jenkins, Stephen Merchant and the beautiful Nicky Whelan). It's not quite as hilarious as the films from the Farrelly Brother's glory days but it's still a pretty funny and effective comedy.

    Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95Zjdlcbe0
  • Warning: Spoilers
    This thing is just awful, pointless and dull. It doesn't even have the wit to crazy combo of the Hangover. The premise is insipid, the writers have obviously got no idea of how actual, adult relationships work. Nothing more than another in a long line of mass produced, dopey, incredulous 'comedy' produced for the lowest common denominator. if this is the future of what our comedies are, no thanks. Take my advice;skip this movie. Walk past it on store shelves. If it's Telly, unplug the set and go out for a pint. It's not funny. Not even remotely. It's groan inducing. If you like other brainless rot like Napoleon Dynamite, Mama's Boy, Or anything of that 'style' , a term which I use in the loosest conceivable terms, you may get something out of this. If you've never actually been with a Woman, then the concept of this film may actually hold some sort of allure.
  • I really don't understand why so many bad reviews, infact i found this movie not so bad, even a nice one funny and entertaining. of course is a light movie and nothing so special, but if you want a light comedy with several funny scenes and laughs that could be ok.
  • davispittman19 March 2016
    Hall Pass (2011) does have its moments, no it's not always great, but it's entertaining at times. Christina Applegate is great in this film, she was my favorite here, she was the funniest in this movie in my opinion. Jenna was good too, she's good in the more dramatic scenes, she is funny at times, but she's better at the more dramatic scenes. Jason sudeikus was OK I guess, but he was annoying in many scenes. Owen Wilson is pretty enjoyable, she's better in the more dramatic scenes, like Jenna Fischer. The script is alright, not cinematic gold, but not crap either. The chemistry between the on screen actors is good, I really enjoyed that aspect of Hall Pass. Hall Pass is a little too raunchy at times, but it's not wayyy too over the top, and ultimately everything works out well between the married couples. Also Tyler Hoechlin is good here, he's sexy, hot, funny, and plays typical college aged cliché persona well. 7/10.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    I must sound like a broken record, but once again this horrid film proves that Hollywood simply cannot make a decent comedy anymore. This one has the same things they all do now- tons of juvenile potty humor, gratuitous male nudity (and in a rarity, a brief topless female), and a predictable, disastrous message. The male nudity, by the way, includes a close up view of a male's penis.

    As usual, the males in the film are made out to be the bad guys. Two hapless husbands, who are guilty of nothing more than ogling women here and there, are granted a "hall pass" by their wives. This idea comes from their friend, played by the odious Joy Behar, who is no actress and can barely recite her lines. The men are told that for one week, they can do whatever they want, and pretend they aren't married, while the wives take the kids out of town.

    In an utterly foreseen twist, the guys turn out to not even be capable of talking to girls, let alone sleeping with them, while their wives are partying up a storm with hot younger athletes. Meanwhile, we are treated to a running gag that could have been penned by most third graders, of the guys' fat friend constantly uttering "I have to poo." In a truly artistic scene, we are treated to this man's fat bare bottom taking a dump in a sand trap on a golf course. Talk about hilarious!

    Owen Wilson eventually turns down the hot 21 year old who had been his children's babysitter, her hot 40 something aunt, and the gorgeous blonde Australian chick who had been the object of his fantasies. He doesn't even get to kiss any of them. His hapless friend is similarly unlucky. Meanwhile, Christina Appelegate, as the other husband's wife, does sleep with a younger guy. Afterwards, she says "this can't happen again- I love my husband."

    This is the message that has been coming out of Hollywood for some time now- a wife can have an extramarital affair, but the husband cannot, or at least if he does, the marriage is over. We saw this even in Family Guy, when Lois slept with Bill Clinton, but Peter inexplicably backed out of sleeping with his date, so the writers solved that by having Peter sleep with Bill Clinton, too. Ugh.

    When the hapless other husband reunites with Christina Applegate, he gets down on his knees and apologizes. "For what?" the audience might ask. He didn't really do anything wrong. But his wife sure did. And does she admit this, or apologize herself? Nope. Guess again- she accepts his ridiculous apology with a canary-that-ate-the-kitten smile. Nice message there for everyone.

    This movie was not as awful as the Judd Apatow stuff, or quite as unfunny as most of Adam Sandler's and Will Ferrell's "gems," but it is still thoroughly offensive.
  • This is my review on hall pass. This movie definitely has its ups and downs. It has quite a few laughs but is kind of slow at other parts. I really like how this movie portrays women for what they are. Withholding sex from their husbands and then get mad at them for masturbating things like that watch the movie for more examples. I know women and they definitely pegged it right on the nose.

    This movie is about two friends who are not so happy with their sex lives with their wives and are constantly fantasizing about sex with other women. The wives eventually get tired of this and grant them a hall pass. A hall pass is a week off from marriage in which they can do whatever they want. Party, have sex whatever. At first the two friends are excited about this but eventually they discover that picking up girls in your 40s is not as easy as when they were 20.

    The thing that really bothers me in this movie are how the women are so mad at their men for fantasizing about other women that they grant them a hall pass out of last resort but all they had to do is just have sex with their husbands more. Not that I'm calling this movie fake im saying this is exactly the type of irrational behaviour women condone.

    Overall if your a guy and you love Owen Wilson watch this. If you are a girl and you don't want to have the truth about yourself put into movie format i suggest you stay away from this one.
  • brookebirch20 October 2021
    Some good laughs in this film...just not when Joy Behar cackles in it. It's definitely something you can watch with your significant other, probably not with your kids, in-laws or parents.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    In between the plainly failed "Heartbreak Kid" and the so-so "Three Stooges", the Farrellys came up with a movie that at least bears their hallmark style, and has its comedic moments. If you like their original work, then "Hall Pass" is the kind of movie that you won't regret watching, and it will amuse you. Although Farrelly fans wouldn't have minded finally seeing a movie where the brothers have done one even better than "There's Something About Mary" -- and sadly, this isn't it. Ideally, the entire movie would have been in the style and pace of the truly hilarious postquel -- I mean, the short flick with Kathy Gifford during the end title sequence.

    The movie starts out kinda slow and too cute -- two family men truly love their picture-perfect wives, but they can't help occasionally ogling the odd young chick. Their wives decide to give them a "hall pass", i. e. "one week off from marriage", where they are free to pursue their sexual aspirations. Then, party time? Of course, the two staid, pot-bellied hubbies are not exactly the carnal predators they were in their college days (or, more to the point, like to imagine themselves to have been), and marital bliss eventually ensues. With a few twists.
  • This movie rates an "F" for Full Frontal male nudity on several occasions that had nothing to do with the movie or plot. I believe they were trying to see how far they could push the envelope. It was offensive and disgusting for an R-rated film; it would've been appropriate for X-rated porn. I am sad that the talented and hilarious Farrelly Brothers lowered themselves into the sewer.

    Other than that, however, the rest of the plot was also highly offensive -- two "poor husbands," who want nothing more than to cheat on their wives, who are portrayed more like mothers and guardians than partners. This is hardly the typical middle-class family in my experience, and hardly a theme for a comedy.

    They Failed, big-time.
  • The Farrelly brothers are once again stuck on something uncomfortable. Are they really saying that a pass to cheat is something to root for? The fact is the subject isn't that fun to watch. The whole concept is truly unlikeable but they were able to salvage a few laughs out of the whole thing.

    Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis are extremely likable actors. They were able to take some of ickyness out of the cheating. But the way they go about their adventures really diminishes their marriages. It doesn't help that their wives are cheating with other people.

    The Farrelly brothers really need to drop all these uncomfortable themes. It's as if they are trying for highest degree of difficulty. Either that or make these much more darker. Make it truly a black comedy.
  • bdubington1 October 2011
    in an era of burgeoning comedic genius, this is and pair of wrinkled testes floating in a bowl of warm corona light. uninspired and disastrous. everyone involved should be embarrassed. because i need 10 lines for a review, i will talk about something better than this "movie". like being cut with a belt sander, rubbing a homeless man's feet, diarrhea Popsicles, very small parachutes, foot binding, water boarding, being stranded in a life raft in the middle of the Atlantic, being clawed in the anus by a bear. and that is about it. I'm sure some people think its really funny. but its not. if you think I'm way off watch it and tell me. but then you will look really dumb.
  • I went to this movie not expecting a great night. We didn't plan on going to this flick but the one we wanted to go to was sold out so we got stuck with this. I like a good comedy, and I enjoyed the other Farrelly films so I figured how bad can it be? I was pleasantly surprised. This is definitely not a movie you'd take your mother to. There are surprises throughout the movie and some blatant sight gags and the usual 'guy' humor , but it actually wasn't that bad! The chemistry between the 2 guys is spot on. I'm not a huge Owen Wilson fan but I do like Jason Sudakis. They were great together. This movie moves along pretty quickly and keeps the energy throughout the film. It does have a message that comes to fruition by the end of he film and for me , this all worked. The other guy friends seem to disappear after a while and I think could have lasted until the end. The storyline is good, the chemistry is good, the humor (while at times is the typical gag humor) made me laugh out loud and the message is good. As a Boston Red Sox fan, it was fun to see Dwight Evans in a role here. It's not the worst thing to spend a movie ticket on and is good entertainment if you like this kind of thing. But don't bring your elderly parents unless they can handle it and for goodness sake, don't bring little kids.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Do you think men are all bumbling incompetents who can barely dress themselves? If so do yourself a favor and check out this gem!

    ***SPOILERS!!!!*** Did you know that married men BLATANTLY check out other women CONSTANTLY!!!??? ME NEITHER!!! This information had NEVER come up on my radar and thus the fact that this was pointed out several times in this movie was absolutely hysterical! I'm so glad that JB Smoove & Stephen Merchant found time away from those AWFUL television projects that they're involved in! I just don't understand why Larry David & Ricky Gervais continue to hold these guys back! They should totally continue down this road where they FINALLY have some good writing behind their performances!

    This this the best Farrelly brothers movie since Stuck on You!!!!!!!!!
  • g-bodyl26 January 2013
    Hall Pass is definitely a sweet and raucous film that is vastly underrated. I almost skipped this movie because of the bad things I was hearing about it. But because it has Owen Wilson starring and that talented Farrelly Brothers at the helm, I decided to give this film a shot. There are better R-rated comedies out there, but this still is a respectable one with lots of funny and dramatic moments.

    This film is about two friends who are given hall passes from their wives. That pretty much means they can do whatever they want as they get a week off from their marriages. But will they be doing the right thing?.....

    Owen Wilson always gives off a certain charm no matter what movie he is in. He played more of the straight-laced guy here but he still was good. I think Jason Sudekis will be a big comedy star because he had some really funny moments.

    Overall, Hall Pass is another good entry in the R-rated comedy category of which 2011 was famous for. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. There are a few stretches that are meant to be funny but really are not. But, most comedies are like that. I rate this film 8/10.
  • apb21612 June 2013
    I actually didn't have any expectations for this movie so I wasn't disappointed by it. Did I love it? No, but I didn't dislike it. It was a great movie for a nice rainy day with nothing to do but catch up on movies, so when it came on HBO I watched it because there wasn't much else to watch and I enjoyed it. I laughed at some parts and there were some good heart warming moments too. I'm not a big Owen Wilson fan (because it drives me crazy that an actor who must have a decent amount of money doesn't use it to FIX HIS BROKEN NOSE! ARE YOU READING THIS OWEN?!), his voice is a bit monochromatic for me, but he has been in great movies so I don't dislike him either.

    This is about two guys who tend to not try and hide the fact that they notice a lot of women and their wives grow tired of it, so they take the advice of an older friend and give their husbands a 'hall pass' from marriage. They take a week off of marriage and whatever happens stays between the two of them. At first Owen is reluctant but his friend is excited and talks him into it. They round up their guy friends and go on adventures only to slowly discover their age has caught up with them. The women retreat to a vacation home and end up having some adventures of their own.

    In conclusion, it's a decent watch with some life lessons and funny moments and would make a great addition for a casual movie night.
  • I really would not waste any money on this movie. I wish I had not watched the movie because I will never get the time I spent watching this garbage back and should sue the idiot directors This is a non stop penis joke and awkwardly explicit male nudity type of movie that fails to deliver anything original tries to force its jokes to happen.

    This movie is pretty much for females and bi/gay males as with many comedy that have been coming out in the last decade and a half. Its a cop-out to producing anything of substance just to flip a quick buck. The entertainment industry knows that if they make movies for the girls their boyfriends will pay for it even if they do not care to see the movie because of the roles society has in place for men. However if they make movies with lots of female nudity and vagina jokes the movie will flop because women flip out and call men disgusting perverts for wanting to see the movie. Got to love double standards.

    A trendy flop of a bad time. This movie was terrible. Watch if you are masochistic.
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