DVD Movie Review: Wild Hogs

What started as a gay-joke laced Tim Allen comedy quickly turned into a disastrous problem-laden situation comedy which fell into the age old trap of seriousness. When the conflict is too colossal, the only solution is nonsense. A variegated cast and an unrealistically neat and tidy conclusion make this wannabe feel-good movie second-class salvage.

Four middle-aged friends (Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy) reach a midlife crisis in which they are bored with their everyday routines and threadbare family activities. Having a tradition of going to the local bar, riding motorcycles and wearing black leather adorned with a fictitious "Wild Hogs" gang logo, the lot decide to go on a road trip. Taking in the sights and the fresh air, they encounter a licentious policeman, a barbarous "real" biker gang and an abundance of adventure in the peaceful chile-loving town of Madrid, New Mexico. (CLICK HERE TO READ MIKE'S FULL THEATRICAL REVIEW)

Special Features:

The overriding theme in Wild Hogs is to keep getting back up, no matter what your age is. Not even critical condemnation could stop this rag-tag group of comedic dinosaurs on two wheels. The film resonated with older audiences and repeat business skyrocketed the picture to the top. Now on DVD, Wild Hogs rides home in style, but not even its flashy, embossed packaging can truly cover up the faults that plague the film.

Complete with a surprisingly substantial "Making of" segment, Wild Hogs does do its fair share of self congratulatory bits, but it actually offers some insight into the making of the film too. During the segment, the film's stunt coordinator reflected on each of the four principle actor's experience with learning to ride motorcycles. While Travolta and Allen handled their choppers with ease, things didn't bode as well for Lawrence and Macy. The actors had to start from scratch, learning how to ride in a pack. Lawrence was terrified of the bike, while Macy had to practice looking as if he were out of control while still being in control.