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Joe
Somebody
Gareth Von
Kallenbach
In this day and age
many believe that it is important to be noticed in order to
get ahead at work. While some people believe in keeping a
low profile and letting their work do their talking, few can
dispute that in order to get ahead, it is important that
your supervisors know whom you are and have a good opinion
of you and your work.
However, when a
person works day in and day out in virtual obscurity, hoping
that someday their efforts will pay off in the form of a
promotion, tensions can mount. Such is the case of Joe
Scheffer (Tim Allen) in the film "Joe Somebody" by director
John Pasquin.
Joe is a likeable but
quiet man who works in the video department of a Minnesota
Pharmaceutical company. Joe had been promised a promotion a
year ago, and he is still waiting for it to come through. Joe
is also recently divorced, and his ex-wife Callie (Kelly
Lynch) seems more concerned with dragging their daughter
Natalie (Hayden
Panettiere), to all manner of bizarre cultural events than
dealing with issues brought on by the divorce. During a bring
your daughter to work day, Joe, has an encounter with a nasty
co-worker Mark McKinney (Patrick
Warburton) who has taken Joe’s ten year employee parking
spot. Since Mark is not entitled to park in the lot, Joe
questions him about it. In the confrontation that follows,
Mark beats up Joe in full view of his daughter and many
co-workers. This drives Joe into a depression, and he stops
coming to work. Concerned that they could be facing a lawsuit,
Joe’s company sends a wellness officer named Meg Harper (Julie
Bowen), to Joe’s home to see what can be done to remedy
the problem. Joe is reluctant at best to listen to what she
has to say even though Joe has liked her from afar for a
while. When asked the question "What do you want" Joe becomes
puzzled and spends the day pondering the question and
eventually decides that he wants a rematch with Mark to
reclaim what he had taken from him. This decision creates a
ripple effect at work as Joe suddenly becomes popular and is
attending the executive club, parties, and Basketball games in
the company seats. Joe also gets a promotion that he could
only dream of and starts to get lavish clothing and cars to
show his new found success. . While all should be right in
Joe’s life, his daughter is unhappy with his decision to
fight, as is Meg, which hinders a budding relationship for
them.
Propelled with his
new confidence and success, Joe recruits Chuck Scarett (James
Belushi), a former action film star turned instructor to help
him prepare for his pending match. While Chuck seems out of
shape and swills beer like it is water, he knows his stuff and
takes on the task of training Joe to defend himself.
What follows is an
entertaining mix of a person living the life he has dreamed
about and learning about the decisions a person makes in life
and how they affect those around you.
Tim Allen is good in
the role of Joe as he is a likeable everyman. His scenes with
Julie Bowen are good and they have a very easy chemistry with
one another. Though it is slow in some parts, Pasquin does a
decent job with pacing and brings the film to an enjoyable if
predictable outcome. Allen has worked with Pasquin in the past
ranging from "Home Improvement" to "The Santa Claus" so there
is a natural comfort between then and it shows in the films
easy-going manner. While Not a comedy in the traditional
sense, there are some laughs such as Joe performing Karaoke of
The Backstreet Boys and Belushi almost steeling every scene
that he is in.
While not a classic,
the film was an entertaining diversion and if you want a light
film to just sit back and relax to, then this might just be
your movie.
3 stars out of 5 |
