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Joe Somebody
The star and director of The Santa Clause reunited for 2001's Joe Somebody, a testosterone-charged but predictable comedy that remains watchable thanks to some terrific performances.
Tim Allen plays Joe Scheffer, the unassuming "Video Communications Director" at a large pharmaceutical company for ten years who , in the presence of his daughter (Hayden Pannetiere) and dozens of fellow employees, gets beat up in the parking lot by the office bully (Patrick Warburton). He decides the only way to get his dignity back is by challenging said bully to a rematch.
After Joe makes his challenge, he suddenly becomes the most popular guy in the office because everyone apparently hates this guy. He also attracts the attention of a pretty co-worker (Julie Bowen) trying to talk him out of the rematch because the HR manager (Greg Germann) is afraid Joe might sue the company.
Director Joe Pasquin's resume consists mostly of television and it becomes apparent as the film progresses. Love the way it starts off with Joe going into a deep depression, not even taking off the blood-stained shirt he was wearing in the parking lot. Unfortunately, the story gets a little scattered with too much screentime spent on a squash game and his ex-wife and the office tramp suddenly wanting him. It's every man's dream but it doesn't exactly smack of realism. We know where this story is going and though the ending is more than satisfactory, it takes way too long to get there.
Tim Allen gives one of his most endearing performances in the title role and is well-matched with Bowen. Hayden Pannetiere lights up the screen as Joe's daughter as does Jim Belushi as the actor turned martial arts teacher who trains Joe. Germann does another of his patented slimy turns and Warburton does bring a little substance to the bully, but the screenplay tries to cover a little too much territory.
The star and director of The Santa Clause reunited for 2001's Joe Somebody, a testosterone-charged but predictable comedy that remains watchable thanks to some terrific performances.
Tim Allen plays Joe Scheffer, the unassuming "Video Communications Director" at a large pharmaceutical company for ten years who , in the presence of his daughter (Hayden Pannetiere) and dozens of fellow employees, gets beat up in the parking lot by the office bully (Patrick Warburton). He decides the only way to get his dignity back is by challenging said bully to a rematch.
After Joe makes his challenge, he suddenly becomes the most popular guy in the office because everyone apparently hates this guy. He also attracts the attention of a pretty co-worker (Julie Bowen) trying to talk him out of the rematch because the HR manager (Greg Germann) is afraid Joe might sue the company.
Director Joe Pasquin's resume consists mostly of television and it becomes apparent as the film progresses. Love the way it starts off with Joe going into a deep depression, not even taking off the blood-stained shirt he was wearing in the parking lot. Unfortunately, the story gets a little scattered with too much screentime spent on a squash game and his ex-wife and the office tramp suddenly wanting him. It's every man's dream but it doesn't exactly smack of realism. We know where this story is going and though the ending is more than satisfactory, it takes way too long to get there.
Tim Allen gives one of his most endearing performances in the title role and is well-matched with Bowen. Hayden Pannetiere lights up the screen as Joe's daughter as does Jim Belushi as the actor turned martial arts teacher who trains Joe. Germann does another of his patented slimy turns and Warburton does bring a little substance to the bully, but the screenplay tries to cover a little too much territory.