"Hall Pass": Bromance Or Date Night Movie?

“Hall Pass” is yet another notch in the belt for the comedy writing team of Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the brothers known for taking slapsticky, crass humor and elevating it to a more clever echelon with films such as “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber.” Maybe that’s why I was so horrified when I saw their names pop up with the ending credits. Although, come to think of it, “Shallow Hal” and “Stuck on You” weren’t quite gems, either, were they?

“Hall Pass” is awkward and offensive at worst, contrived and dull at best. I originally intended to gear this review toward a “date night” audience, but please, for the love of God, gentlemen, do not take your dates to see this film. It’s best left in the realm of “bromance” that’s been so popular as of late.

Speaking of which, the previews before the feature included one for “The Hangover Part II.” Unfortunate, because the entire time I couldn’t help but feel “Hall Pass” was trying to mimic the comedy-style and story structure of the original “Hangover,” which was hilarious.

Epic fail. 

The “comedy” (I’ll use that term loosely) revolves around two stereotypically suburban husbands, played by Owen Wilson and SNL’s Jason Sudeikis, and their wives, portrayed by Jenna Fischer (best known as Pam Beasley Halpert on “The Office”) and Christina Applegate. I actually felt bad for Applegate, a fantastic comedienne, who was given nothing but stale jokes and wooden dialogue.

Naturally the men are girl-crazy because they’re married! And married people don’t have sex! And that is hysterical! ::yawn::

After a particularly embarrassing afternoon spent with a Stepford-type family, the women decide to escape to the shore and give their partners “hall passes” from marriage for one solid week, meaning anything goes.

They’ll probably be like domesticated cats, Fischer says. Itching to go out, but once given the freedom, they’ll run right back inside.

But we’re not talking about cats, Applegate retorts. “We’re talking about dogs!” Har har har.

Predictably vulgar adventures ensue with the pair’s predictably rag tag group of friends. There’s a lot of fecal matter (not just references, but literal fecal matter), extended shots of men’s anatomy in other men’s faces, jokes about oral sex and so on and so forth; All working toward the inevitable, predictable ending.

Am I being too harsh? Perhaps. Could the right person in the right environment enjoy this uninventive film? Absolutely. But if you don’t, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

“Hall Pass” is playing at 2 p.m.; 4:50 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. at the AMC Tilghman 8, 4608 Broadway, Allentown.