3 out of 5 stars
What do you get when you throw together four middle-aged has-been actors, a lot of physical comedy, and the requisite "road trip" theme? The result is Wild Hogs, Hollywood's hilarious contribution for the baby boomer market.
Doug, Woody, Bobby, and Dudley (played by Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy, respectively) are four bored suburbanite men fed up with their dull jobs and ordinary lives. Their only excitement comes from their occasional motorcycle cruises around the neighborhood as the "Wild Hogs." When Woody suggests that the group hit the highway in order to escape all of their problems, it seems like a pretty good idea-until the men realize that there are plenty of bumps in the road to encounter.
Overacting is the norm, especially by Travolta and supporting actor Ray Liotta, the leader of the Del Fuegos, a biker gang that puts up trouble for the amateurish Hogs. Although the acting is overdone, it contributes to the overall riotous outlandishness that gives the movie its charm.
Allen and Lawrence are comic and dependable in their performances, but it is Macy who steals the show as the socially awkward computer geek. Another highlight is John C. McGinley, in a cameo role, as an incredibly creepy forest ranger.
The script is not aiming for an Academy Award, and the actors are not flawless, but that's the point. Wild Hogs is supposed to be comedic romp, not highly cultured entertainment. The film achieves its aim, which is to make audiences laugh.
For moviegoers who don't mind some low brow humor, Wild Hogs is the road to enjoyment.
