I love this movie so much

Powerful

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

A lot of the reviewers for this movie wrote that it was "not a very good movie but..." A lot of the reviewers wanted to like this movie, as did I. A number of them even said it was a clean family movie. However, by trying to be a "clean" movie that kids could watch, with a strange "sappy" ending that just didn't fit (at all), and being a believable drama about midlife crisis, failed marriage, workplace violence, and corporate ethics, they ended up with a movie that often seemed far too tedious for young viewers, and not genuine for older viewers; in trying to appeal to everyone, they missed the mark to appeal to anyone. Which is why I think most reviews stop short of saying they simply didn't like this movie, and say it was easily forgotten only seconds after turning it off. It had potential, and Tim Allen is an amicable actor to watch. But he's had far better films to his credit.

Here in the UK we have the famous BBC. With the BBC there's something that serious film lovers are aware of. Namely that BBC1 shows what are considered to be duff movies late at night during the working week. The reason for this is that children are in bed and so are the adults who have to get up in the morning, thus viewing figures are not of any great importance. And mainly, the BBC gets to fulfil it's showing quotas for film's they have the rights too but wish they hadn't. So when I saw that this Tim Allen starrer was showing at midnight on a Monday night, I didn't expect much other than an average time filler of a movie. So it proved.It's a safe parable piece about male egos, bullies and the reaction of others to violence. Hell there's even a little romance in there to make sure the piece stays on the warm side of the safe haven bed. Tim Allen turns in an engaging performance as the guy beat up in front of his young daughter who then gets some martial arts training with the intention of beating said attacker to a pulp. Once the word is out that he is going to fight this guy, everyone starts to react differently to him. Co-workers want to play squash with him, his ex now finds him sexy, you know, that sort of thing. Naturally the ending doesn't hold any great surprises, this is a message movie and its message is delivered with all the subtlety of a thunder storm. But it is watchable, family friendly stuff. Even if, when all is said and done, its vanishes quickly from the memory about two seconds after the credits have rolled. 4/10

Recap: Joe Scheffer is a hardworking single (recently divorced) father. Although all the effort Joe Scheffer puts in his life he remains a Nobody. No one pays attention to him at work, women don't look his way and everyone feels like they can step on him. The only person that seems to really like him is his daughter. So when a fight over a simple matter as a parking space ends with Joe being humiliatingly slapped, in front of not only his co-workers but also his daughter, something snaps inside him. He stays home, and when Meg Harper, the company's health coordinator reaches out to him and asks what he want, the reaction is great. What he wants? He wants to fight, to gain respect. And suddenly he is Somebody...Comments: This is a simple, sweet, feel good company with a few funny quirks. And throw in a few moral pointers and the package is complete. It's all about the little man, growing, maturing, and becoming the Big Man that's walking the High Road. And then of course everyone finds love, succeeds and becomes happy. If you expect something controversial, something deep and philosophical you will be disappointed. But if you sit down, and follow Joe's struggles, you will leave with a smile.Tim Allen, although according to trivia second in line behind Carrey, is a better match for the role than Carrey would have been. This is not that kind of comedy that Carrey does so well. This is the kind of comedy Tim Allen does well. He can be the small trampled guy, and he can be the confident smiling man. Julie Bowen has the role of the love interest, and even if she has pretty much screen time, her role is kind of limited, and Bowen's talents not really put to use. The character of Meg hints at a complex and interesting side, but that is never explored. I guess that is because it would have stolen focus from the story, and changed the feel good comedy-genre into something else.There are two other memorable characters. First, the daughter Natalie, skillfully played by Hayden Panettiere, who also hints of a more complex truth beneath the smart and talented surface. All blissfully ignored of course. And then there is James Belushi, whose character Chuck Scarett, an action-movie star turned martial arts trainer fits the movie much better.All in all, a movie certainly good for a simple evening of entertainment...6/10

I don't know if it was because I watched McHALE'S NAVY the previous night but I was charmed by JOE SOMEBODY . Agreed it's not a movie that will be winning much in the way of awards but isn't as bad as some people are making out . It get's off to a good start in the opening shot where Joe thinks a sexy brunette is waving to him only to find she's waving at someone else . Come on guys admit you've made the same mistake . It's also one of those romantic / family comedies that gets the balance right between pathos and humour without becoming jarring or unfocused . When Joe talks to Natalie his angst ridden daughter on the phone it is a touching scene helped in no small part by a musical score similar to THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION My only real complaint is that the screenplay can't keep up the momentum but that's not a unique criticism since most movies of what ever genre suffer from sagging about two thirds the way through so the only real disappointment is why didn't the producers hire Steven Seagal as Chuck the martial arts movie star . It's impossible not to notice who Chuck is supposed to be and if we had Seagal lampooning himself then this would have been a minor comedy classic