KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: 1 out of 5
As this comedy of four 40-something guys escaping their suburban existences on a Harley Davidson roadtrip across America finally hits the highway, you start placing your bets: how long until the Easy Rider reference? When will they strike up Born to be Wild?
It takes a while. Right up until the final reel, actually. Like far too many of the gags in this mid-life crisis movie it dies in the exhaust pipe. Similarly, the premise undermines itself from the kick-start. Four guys who get all leathered up to ride loud, slow and heavy hogs to prove their manhood might have provided rich comedic pickings. But no, the film is otherwise occupied having William H. Macy's geek character run into things. Or having John Travolta's askew performance become its own little sideshow.
It might have been cheesy City Slickers-with-goggles good fun if it had been delivered with some spark and wit. Or if we could believe the quartet - made up by Tim Allen's dentist and Martin Lawrence's henpecked plumber - would actually be friends outside their respective agents' offices.
They begin their journey with a painful series of we're-not-gay gags, and inevitably run into some real bikers. That leads to a showdown involving an idyllic small town, Marisa Tomei's diner and the lamest brawl scene of the year. All of which leaves Wild Hog smelling as funny as roadkill.
Cast: John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy
Director: Walt Becker
Rating: M (medium-level violence)
Running time: 99 mins Screening: SkyCity, Village, Hoyts
Verdict: Mid-life roadtrip comedy does for Harleys what RV did for campervans
