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Bill (2007)

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23 comments in total

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58 out of 75 people found the following comment useful :-
Light fun with a surprise or two, 7 May 2008

Author: sioenroux from United States

I'm not much of a comedy fan, mostly because in recent years they've strayed too far into smart-ass one-liner dumb-formula potty-humor cardboard-cutout territory, which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but I don't.

This, though, is an old-fashioned comedy with heart. Can Bill make his life better with the help of a precocious teen? Sure he can. But the way he gets there isn't just the standard formula, and that makes it a fun watch.

It also helps that the technical work is all top-notch, and the supporting cast is pitch perfect, from the staid father-in-law to the somewhat manic doughnut franchisers.

This isn't a movie that will make you guffaw and belly laugh for an hour and a half, but it does make you feel inspired and offers a few chuckles along the way. In that regard, it reminds me of "Charlie Bartlett," "Juno" and "Rocket Science."

I'm glad this style of comedy didn't die out because of the Farrelly Brothers' success. Their kind of comedy is redundant and dumb -- this type leaves you happy for a while. And Hollywood should do that more often.

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92 out of 173 people found the following comment useful :-
The classic comedy is back, 20 September 2007

Author: larry-411 from United States

I attended the World Premiere of "Bill" at the Toronto International Film Festival. That fact alone is actually surprising to me, as my viewing habits tend to lean towards dramas, and this is anything but. In fact, festivals this year have been weighed down by heavy films that are about as dark as they come. "Bill" could not be more different, and what a refreshing change and much-needed uplift is this all-out, unabashed comedy. Co-directed by the husband-wife team of Bernie Goldmann and Melissa Wallack (who penned the script), "Bill" has all the elements required of the genre: characters to whom we can relate, a clever storyline, and laughs aplenty.

Aaron Eckhart ("Any Given Sunday," "Erin Brockovich," "Thank You for Smoking") is Bill, smack dab in the middle of a life becoming all-too familiar. His job is falling apart (he begrudgingly works for his irascible father-in-law), his marriage is going to pieces, his body is going to pot, and, perhaps most horrifying, his hair is rejecting his head. Bill needs a change, fast, and is not-so-voluntarily signed up for a mentoring program at the local high school. He is teamed up with young Logan Lerman ("The Butterfly Effect," "Hoot," "3:10 to Yuma"), who plays The Kid, literally (Lerman's character is never identified by name), and the two join together in battle to fight the demons at the heart of Bill's midlife crisis.

A magnificent ensemble cast including Elizabeth Banks, Timothy Olyphant, Jessica Alba, and Kristen Wiig (and far too many more to mention) are all up to the task of providing enough comedic fodder to fill several films. Discussing their characters in depth would be too revealing, and my policy is to allow the reader to find a synopsis elsewhere if desired. Ultimately the partnership between Bill and The Kid is what drives the story, and the chemistry between Eckhart and Lerman is central to the success of the film. And it works. The Kid is smart, streetwise, sexy (or so he thinks), and has the self-confidence of someone thrice his age. In short, he's everything Bill aspires to be. It's a role-reversal device that's at the heart of many classic comedies, and Wallack's brilliant writing makes it work.

Despite being an independent film (read: low budget) "Bill" has the look of a Hollywood movie. The design is bright and the sound and editing give it a crisp, bouncy feel. Best of all, the cinematography with Peter Lyons Collister at the helm is second to none. He's one of the best in the business, a classic comedy veteran, and it shows.

It's always hard to single anyone out in a fine ensemble cast but in both screenings I attended Lerman stole the show. He unquestionably got the biggest laughs and was the crowd favorite. I hesitate to call him a newcomer, as at the tender age of 15 he already has 10 movies and 23 television episodes under his belt, but he's one to watch for and has a bright career ahead of him. But this is Eckhart's film to make or break, and his sense of comedic timing and puppy-like ability to elicit just the right amount of empathy from the audience create those touching moments that leave the viewer wanting more. And so I attended the second screening as well, and enjoyed it even more. And that's the true test of a comedy. From this writer's perspective, "Bill" not only hits its mark but is also sure to be a winner for years to come.

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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
An enjoyable movie, 20 July 2008

Author: amalmer

I just watched Meet Bill last night, and while it wasn't fantastic, it was definitely worth the watch.

This movie follows the main character Bill, who, after a series of downfalls, realizes life isn't going they way he wanted. He then offers to mentor a rich, self-assured high school student. In the end, the student more or less ends up mentoring Bill, and helps him to change his views on life.

I thought the chemistry between Logan Lerman (the kid) and Aaron Eckhart (Bill) was fantastic! they both did a great job with their role, and stole the whole show. These roles were out of style for both actors--I've never seen Eckhart do comedy, and Lerman's character was much more rebellious than usual. It just shows the talent of both actors, especially the versatility of Lerman. The rest of the supporting characters were slightly under-developed.

The style of comedy in this movie is more..."old school" in my opinion. It's not slap-stick or non-stop laughter, but the comedy is inter-weaved throughout the film, with several vary funny scenes and one-liners. I would say the film is geared toward audiences from the mid 20s to mid 40s. However, I am a 16 year old female, and I enjoyed the film.

The plot does get lost a bit, and some characters are under-developed, but overall it's a good independent film. Is it the best or funniest movie you'll ever see? Probably not. But it delivers a style of comedy not found often these days, and if you connect with the style and the story, you will definitely like this movie.

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4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
American Beauty Light, 21 July 2008

Author: siderite from Romania

Aaron Eckhart made this movie, as one of the previous comments said. Other than that, it was all a bit too awkward a movie to call well made. The story is pretty much about a middle aged guy discovering that his career choices make him miserable and how he find his way out without the violence and social satire in American Beauty.

It is a decent comedy, not too bad as some suggested, but certainly not memorable. Jessica Alba plays a medium sized role and Elizabeth Banks looks totally hot.

Bottom line: see it when you feel like watching a light movie, it will be more fun for people approaching middle age than for teens and it can be a great movie to watch with the wife.

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3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Ten more minutes...;please..., 16 July 2008

Author: RitchCS from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

---SPOILER ALERT---This critique discusses the end of the movie.

I shouldn't be writing about this movie as I do NOT like comedies. I'd never heard of "Meet Bill" until I was desperately trying to find some movies to put in my Netflix queue for the week. I saw this new film listed, starring Aaron Eckhart, who, IMO, KNOWS how to pick good scripts and is a favorite actor whom I enjoy and admire. When the DVD arrived in the mail today, I was not in the mood for a comedy, but I slid it in my DVD tray anyway, I watched about the first five minutes standing up to make an exit into the kitchen...but instead, I sat down and started enjoying, as well as laughing out loud, at this wonderful little independent comedy. I hadn't read a synopsis, so I really couldn't outguess the screenwriter where the plot was headed. Then I got the clue where we were about to go and how the movie would probably end...but NO! The movie just ended without giving any of us a clue what was going to happen. Ten more minutes...even FIVE...a paragraph, ONE LINE...SOMETHING...I mean it IS a comedy for crying out loud...where's the comic ending? I'll bet there's a couple of dozen yards of film on the cutting room floor which would have pleased me and everyone else and who knows, it might have been a hit. It's really a good film that leads the audience to a cliff and there's no more road. Even an alternate ending on the DVD would have been fantastic! Now I have to wonder if this is the real reason why I hate comedies? The kid playing 'The Kid", Logan Lerman is gonna be a huge star. He and Aaron made a great team. He has NO inhibitions for his age and all but walks away with the movie from more experienced actors. The ending written for "The Kid" sucked as well. If I MISSED At this point, I don't know if he and Elizabeth stayed together...what was he going to do about a job? Anyone have any ideas?

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4 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
A pleasure to watch, 7 August 2008

Author: Gordon-11 from Hong Kong

This film is about a man married to a woman from a powerful family undergoing a midlife crisis. Unexpectedly, a high school student helps him through it.

Bill is portrayed to be a complete loser. He realises that he is a loser, and wants to change. The pathetic state he is in is funny and evokes sympathy at the same time. The transformation is quite dramatic, and it is quite a surprise to see Aaron Eckhart shaving himself. I would not have thought that an actor would do that, but then they are probably paid millions of dollars for that scene.

The kid's charming and cheerful persona shines, and I feel that he is the true star in the film. Jessica Alba is as charming and adorable as usual. These three characters interact together with great charm, and makes "Meet Bill" a pleasure to watch.

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Answers or similar conclusions?, 3 September 2008

Author: DianaMurphy from Canada

Cute - where have I heard this story before??? Are these answers to my questions or conclusions drawn from the same public sources? youtube? I hope not! Well I guess that helps vindicate Meredith Johnson (except for the acorn part and the fat stomach part which are not part of my story).

Why does David Murphy get cheered for being the irate fan-"apologize"? Did he really do that? Well - the provocation plea might work Cute kid. Maybe he can play the guitar player when he's a little older -he has the eyes for it.

Nice lingerie.

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Watch this movie before you go to bed. Or, before you go to work., 1 September 2008

Author: Frédéric Larsen from Norway

Funny thing. Two minutes into the movie, I thought: "American Beauty Light". After the movie I visit IMDb and the first comment that pops up is titled "American Beauty Light". And I actually believe it sums up the movie. Or rather: American Beauty Light with Humor.

I think I really enjoyed this movie, and like many have commented before me, Aaron Eckhart really does a good job as Bill. After recently having seen The Dark Knight and now this movie, I'm really starting to get a feeling this Eckhart guy is gonna make it big. He kind of rules. He looks like an actor and his voice is trustworthy. I have no clue as to why I'm writing this comment, other than the fact that I wish to express my deepest respect for Mr. Eckhart and also I think people should check out this movie when they get a chance.

So, bottom line: check it out. Please do.

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1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Eckhart's fabulous comic performance nearly saves strident send-up of human principles..., 16 August 2008

Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca

Whoever could have guessed that suave, manicured, handsome-devil Aaron Eckhart would become our next great sad-sack comedian? The rubber-face which Eckhart uses here, playing a disgruntled, disappointed, directionless human resources exec at his father-in-law's bank, is nothing short of remarkable. Cast as middle-aged Bill, Eckhart is extremely courageous and focused--too focused to become a ham, yet silly and flexible enough to keep this bumpy comedy buoyant and entertaining. The tone of the picture is half-black comedy/half-upper class satire, with possibly too many targets and characters on its plate. Still, the women in Bill's life (Elizabeth Banks as his cheating spouse and Jessica Alba as a friendly neighborhood salesgirl) each have their strong moments, and Eckhart's scenes with his gay brother and assorted in-laws are pungent and ripe with nearly-realized stinging possibilities. What doesn't quite work is the sub-plot with a mouthy teenager choosing Bill to be his "mentor" (also, a duck-hunting sequence with Bill's wife's family is also flabby, its only purpose demonstrating their need to humiliate Bill--and he being oblivious). The filmmakers are careful to let Bill be his own person--he's often a target, but rarely is he victimized. It's to Eckhart's credit that this stepped-on character remains likable and respectable (no pathos or pity here, and none are necessary). Whether entertaining guests in his camping tent or getting his weary body back into shape, Bill is lurching, funny, struggling, and very human. I didn't quite buy the happy ending, with its vitriolic "I don't where I'm going, but I'm excited" sentiments, but Aaron Eckhart makes this guy a joy--and for a knockabout, second-string comedy, that's a real achievement. **1/2 from ****

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0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Not quite worth the money you'll pay to watch it, 23 August 2008

Author: leah from Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

It was simply just okay. Not the most realistic film ever made, but it did have its moments.

While some points were funny, most of it couldn't have taken place; aka- when a teenage boy has fireworks go off in his locker, while class is in session. However, if you ignore the many parts that easily couldn't actually take place, you may be entertained.

Bill is a relateable character, but has very strange mannerisms.

Go into this one with an open mind, or you will definitely be disappointed.

As for Jessica Alba's character, don't expect much of anything, as usual; her acting is mediocre at best.

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