Who's Playing Who?

Tim Allen John Travolta Martin Lawrence William H Macy Ray Liotta Marisa Tomei Kevin Durand M.C. Gainey Jill Hennessy Tichina Arnold John C McGinley Peter Fonda Art Aitken Margaret Travolta Stephen Tobolowsky Jason Sklar Randy Sklar

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Dougn Woody Bobby Dudley Jack Maggie Red Murdock Kelly Madsen Karen Davis Highway Patrolman Damien Blade Huge Tattooed Biker Dana Charley Earl Dooble Buck Dooble

Run Time 99 minutes Rated M [AUST] ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark laws applied. The Inside Story We've all seen them on the road. They dress like a bikie, they ride the same brand of bike the bikies prefer and, many display the same arrogance and disrespect bikies have for their fellow road users and the road rules. They're not the real deal. They are in fact, wannabe's. Posers. The weekend warriors who "jump on their 'hogs' at the end of the work week, hoping to find even a flash of that free spirit that still burns beneath their everyday roles as daddies, bosses, henpecked husbands and breadwinners." The story of "Wild Hogs" was sparked when writer Brad Copeland became fascinated by the new subculture of guys who wear suits and work in offices during the week, only to transform into leather-bound Harley riders on the weekend. "I thought, why isn’t anyone making a movie about all these suburban biker guys?" says Copeland. "I became intrigued by these guys who lead the usual 9 to 5 businessman’s existence, but then they have this whole other life where they try to leave that behind and go out into the great outdoors to ride. It felt like a sweet set-up for a very fun adventure." The four main characters in "Wild Hogs" are: Doug Madsen, a dentist with such an inferiority complex, he always introduces himself as a doctor; Woody Stevens, the group’s seeming 'golden boy', a wealthy, charismatic businessman who looks like one of life’s big winners, but whose secret troubles are about to catch up with him; Bobby Davis, a hen-pecked husband and plumber on hiatus who just took a year off to try, unsuccessfully, to become a writer; and Dudley Frank, a computer-geek bachelor with a knack for always finding himself in embarrassing situations. "The idea is that these guys are all kind of living their own version of the white-collar, suburban life, except that on Sundays, they put on their leathers and head to the Harley-Davidson hang-out, where they feel kind of like poseurs," says Copeland who wrote six episodes of the EMMY ® and Golden Globe ® winning show "Arrested Development" and was supervising producer of thirty eight episodes of the EMMY ® winning, "My Name Is Earl". "I think it comes down to the fact that nobody wants to feel too safe in life. These guys love their jobs, love their wives, love their children, but they also feel like maybe they need something else to tap into that cut-loose craziness, go wild and live on the edge, even for just a few days. They just want to see how that would feel, but they have no idea where this journey is going to take them, either on the map or emotionally." When producers Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin of Tollin/Robbins Productions read the screenplay "they knew they had found not only a great vehicle for an ensemble of great comic stars but a joyful experience for moviegoers." "We've made a lot of dramas, we've made a number of movies with a sports backdrop and movies that are specifically for a family audience. Of all the movies we’ve made, though, "Wild Hogs" probably has the broadest appeal," notes Mike Tollin. "Wild Hogs" also appealled to director Walt Becker who had just finished "Van Wilder: Party Liason". "The second I finished it, I was in," Becker recalls."It was a story that was not only very funny but hit very close to home." How close to home? Well first up Becker financed his entire college education by buying and selling Harleys. Secondly, his father, a lifelong Harley aficionado, had take a road trip. How did that come about? "He was going through a bit of a midlife crisis, so he and some friends flew from Los Angeles to Wisconsin, bought new Harleys and rode them across the country for two weeks," Becker explains. "He was a Baptist minister and now he had a pierced ear and a skull bandana! Basically, it was the same journey as our four characters in "Wild Hogs" go on. So this was one of those scripts where you just know that you’re supposed to do it because you’ve lived it." But that wasn't the only reason. was it? "What better way to confront my own mini midlife crisis than to take on an ambitious comedy adventure with a cast of great actors and hundreds of motorcycles," he said. The film attracted four of Hollywoods best known faces. Popular comedian Tim Allen, whose work has traversed from no-limits stand-up to hit family films; the Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee John Travolta, who has been seen in some of the most monumental films of our times, from "Saturday Night Fever" to "Pulp Fiction"; the major comic star Martin Lawrence, who began as a groundbreaking young stand-up performer and went on to become the star of such blockbuster franchises as "Big Momma’s House" and "Bad Boys I & II"; and William H Macy, the oft-lauded Oscar® nominee who is a prolific star of prestigious film, television and theater projects. "It was beyond our wildest dreams to attract a cast like this all together in one movie," says the director. "We always approached the film as an ensemble piece," says Tollin. "We didn’t want it to be one big star and three supporting actors, so we came up with the notion of going after these four world class actors, and they all responded exactly the way we hoped. They created not only great characters but a great dynamic between the characters where you really feel like these guys have been friends all their lives." "The thought of working with four adult males was inspiring. I hadn’t really done an adult film since Galaxy Quest," says Allen. 'My character, Doug, is a little anal and a little fed up, in some ways like me, in some ways not like me, but in the course of the film, he learns to stand up for himself." So does he own a Harley? "I’ve ridden bikes before but mostly sport bikes and English bikes, like Triumphs and BSAs, but this is the first time I’ve ever really spent time on a Fat Boy," he revealed. "I couldn’t believe someone hadn’t already done this story, because motorcycles have become one of the most common hobbies in the U.S," Travolta notes. "The idea grabbed me right away." And his character? "Woody appears to be the very successful businessman who has the best house, the prettiest wife and the coolest toys, the 'lucky guy who’s got it all'. But what the others don’t know is that he’s taking this trip to avoid the true disaster his life has become. He’s got some secret personal baggage that is going to make things very, very complicated." Martin Lawrence signed on because he loved the idea of joining a 'team'. "Working with such an incredible ensemble cast gives you a certain freedom, so you can have even more fun with the role," he observed. "I also love doing physical comedy". And how does he describe his character, Bobby, the plumber? "As someone who doesn’t have much of a say, so in his life this journey gives him a chance to finally let it all out." "It was like a '‘Hail Mary' moment," Becker recalls. "I was so hoping he would do it, and when he called to say he was in, it was like a turning point. From there, we gave him free reign to take Bobby to places no other actor would even think of." The final 'biker' role went to one of the best actors around, William H Macey. "I was dead-set on having him in the movie and pursued him like a pit bull," says Becker. "He was the only guy I could see playing Dudley. And not only is he fantastically funny and gives the character a lovability factor, but he brings a sense of realism that really grounds the comedy." How does Macey see his character? "He's naïve and clueless and bookish, but he’s not a coward and he's not a dork," he says. "He's a variation on a theme I've played before, but here he actually gets the girl, so yeah for Dudley." On working with his fellow cast members he notes, "there was a lot of testosterone on this set. If you wanted to be heard, you had to speak up quickly and be very loud!" On riding a 'hog' he says "They’re big motorcycles, but Lordy, what a feeling. Only people who have ridden understand that feeling of freedom and lawlessness and living on the edge. It’s irreplaceable. It’s legal and non-narcotic and fun as all get out. I am seriously hooked." Tim Allen jokingly added "When you think of it, Walt was up to his neck in a beehive of egos." Becker says he wouldn't have had it any other way. "These guys had such great chemistry together, it was exciting to watch," he muses. "At times, I was pinching myself just realizing that I had all these wonderful talents together in one film." As cinemagoers will discover, the 'road trip' goes will until they run into a bunch of bad boys known as the Del Fuego biker gang who are led by a real villain named Jack. "When we were brainstorming about who could play Jack, I kept thinking back to Marlon Brando in "The Wild One" and trying to think of who that actor would be today. Who could create the most awesome adversary possible and be the greatest juxtaposition to our four Hogs? Ray was the only actor I could envision pulling this role off," Becker recalls. Liotta recalls, "We went to great lengths to keep an authentic air about the Del Fuegos, because for someone like Jack, biking is not a hobby. It’s a way of life. Jack loves what he believes real bikers represent. So when these yuppies come into his bar, it definitely rubs him the wrong way." Liotta then revealed a juicey little secret. "I’d actually never rode a motorcycle before, so I thought it would be cool to learn, and that turned out to be very fun." Finally, love comes to one character from an unexpected encounter with Maggie, the small-town café owner who gets ahold of Dudley’s heart in the middle of the Hogs journey. "Marisa Tomei brings a sweetness to every single role she’s been in, and she does an incredible job selling the love story between Maggie and Dudley," says Becker. "Maggie is written in a more straight manner," Tomei notes, "so I was always trying to find my little corner of funny and ride that line between the romantic and the comic. Mostly, I loved hearing what the guys were coming up with off the top of their heads. They all have such strong takes on comedy, and watching the four of them work with one another’s rhythms and give each other the space to do their thing was wonderful." What Do The Critics Say?

"Though overly broad and slapstick simplistic, Wild Hogs offers a handful of robust laughs, as well as the fun of watching four ingratiating performers." Jack Garner ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE "The film's a bumptious weekend ride: The engine could use tuning and the plugs are shot, but it gets you most of the way there." Ty Burr BOSTON GLOBE "A formulaic laugh machine that's entirely predictable." Robert Denerstein DENVER ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS "As stupid and bad as the movie gets, there'll still be people out there who find it hilarious." Edward Douglas COMONGSOON.NET "Of the major stars, it's Macy, not surprisingly, who offers the most texture, soul and self-deprecating humor in this light but appealing comedy." Tom Keogh SEATTLE TIMES

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"Unexpected romance, amusing pratfalls and comic performances combine to make 'Wild Hogs' a rollicking good time at the movies." Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "Somehow, Hogs isn't a torture device; in fact, it's pretty amusing when it puts its mind to it." Brian Orndorf OHMYNEWS "Wild Hogs’ laughs aren’t lasting, but it allows just enough room for its cast to showcase what they do best." Brent Simon FILMSTEW "Why watch this film when you could stay home and put your head in the oven instead?" Eric D Snider ERICDSNIDER.COM "I firmly believe that if the actors in a movie are having a good time, that sense of fun can potentially come off the screen and infect the audience. Wild Hogs, for me, was this kind of movie." Mike McGranaghan AISLE SEAT

Synopsis

What if you could take one trip that would change your ordinary life from mild into a wild, freewheeling adventure? Doug Madsen, Woody Stevens, Bobby Davis & Dudley Frank are weekend-warrior friends who decide to rev up their ho-hum suburban lives with one last-hurrah, cross-country motorcycle trip. Taking a long-dreamed-of breather from their jobs and responsibilities, they can't wait to feel the freedom of the open highway. But when these guys hit the road, they have no idea it's going to hit back. Hard! A stop at a bikers Tavern doesn't go down well. A falling out with Jack and his gang will leave the four guys finding themselves in an unwitting rivalry with the real life, bad ass biker gang known as the Del Fuegos, Faced with secrets within their own ranks, this out of their league foursome is about to discover that heading down the road to nowhere can take you places you never expected.

The Verdict "The film delivers, as one would expect, a formulaic buddy storyline based around four friends, all in mid-life crisis, who are wannabe bikers, taking a trip they hope will be life enriching. While it provides reasonable entertainment, "Wild Hogs" remains very much 'middle of the road' when it comes to value for your movie dollars. "Wild Hogs", which often feels a little forced and slightly dysfunctional, does in the end, finds salvation thanks to the performances of William H Lacey, Ray Liotta and Martin Lawrence. There's also a nice touch at the end with a cameo role by 'biker legend' Peter Fonda. I am sure there will be some who will feel "Wild Hogs" has taken them for a ride, but most cinemagoers, will I suspect, find it a pleasant enough experience. 3 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "WILD HOGS" stars .......
Tim Allen ["Galaxy Quest", "Christmas With The Kranks", "The Shaggy Dog" and "The Santa Clause 1, 2 & 3"]; John Travolta ["The General's Daughter", "Basic", "Ladder 49" and "Be Cool"]; Martin Lawrence ["Bad Boys I & II", "Big Momma's House I & II" and "National Security"]; William H Macy ["Cellular", "Sahara", "Thank You for Smoking" and "Bobby"], Marisa Tomei ["Anger Management", "Alfie" and "Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School"] and Ray Liotta ["Blow", "Narc", "John Q", "Revolver" and "Take the Lead"] as Jack.
"WILD HOGS" was .......
directed by Walt Becker ["Van Wilder: Party Liaison"]; screenplay by Brad Copeland [TV'S "Grounded for Life", "Arrested Developement" and "My Name Is Earl"]; production design by Robbie Greenberg ["Cool World", "The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag", "Mighty Joe Young", "The Grinch" and "Be Cool"]; cinematography by Michael Corenblith ["Fool's Rush In", "Save the Last Dance" and "The Santa Clause 3"]; tatoo designer Rick Stratton ["Star Trek: The Motion Picture", "Jarhead", "Miami Vice" and "Smokin' Aces"] produced by Todd Lieberman ["Bringing Down the House", "Eight Below" and "The Shaggy Dog"], Brian Robbins ["Varsity Blues", "The Perfect Score" and "Coach Carter"] and Michael Tollin ["Hard Ball", "Big Fat Liar" and "Radio"]. Copyright Protected © 2007 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved