Movie Review: Wild Hogs

(andPOP) - "Wild Hogs," director Walt Becker's first movie since 2002, is somewhat of a lukewarm success. This latest Walt Disney comedy centres around four suburban friends from Cincinnati played by John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen and William H. Macy. When the biker wannabes get tired of failed relationships and mundane jobs, the four guys decide to be one with nature and ride their motorcycles all the way to the Pacific coast. The road trip turns sour when the group encounters the challenges of the wild and starts a feud with a real New Mexico biker gang, the Del Fuegos.

The movie showcases a few highs and a whole lot of lows. Macy lights up the screen with perfect comedic timing as Dudley Frank, the uber-geek computer programmer. Unfortunately, the rest of the Wild Hogs gang lacks Macy's luster. There is nothing more difficult to watch for about two hours than Travolta and Allen dressed up in do-rags and leather jackets, like a couple of men suffering from midlife crises. Sorry Travolta, but the leather gear should have stopped at "Grease." Even Del Fuegos chief and villain Ray Liotta fails to capture the swag of a true biker gang leader. Driving a motorcycle while in the midst of a real-life DUI charge did not bode well for the "Goodfellas" star. It is no wonder imdb.com reports that Disney was sued by Hells Angels after originally using the real notorious biker gang's name in the film's script, forcing the company to change the fictional biker gang's name to Del Fuegos.

But the film's funniest moments come courtesy of the minor characters. Look out for the gay cop, the sheriff and his identical twin sidekicks. It's too bad the audience didn't get to see much of these characters. In between the dentist jokes and "Brokeback Mountain" jabs, the movie musters to crack several short laughs. And while the story's conflict resolves in a Disney-like fashion, the closing credits are worth staying for.

2.5*