Joe Somebody is one of those cookie-cutter mediocre films where we can predict the ending long before it actually happens. Not only that, but our 'hero' (Tim Allen) is unconvincingly made into a better person as the film progresses (what the hell?). He starts out as a nobody, who wants revenge on a bully who humiliated him, but becomes a somebody after proclaiming revenge and then refraining from fighting the bully. Along the way, he falls in love. (Get it? That's why they call it Joe Somebody). I think I have seen this plot line many times before, only I don't know where. Another issue with this 'comedy' that I have is that there are only two real laughs to be had: One where Joe (how American!) reveals that he has steel balls and a line where Jim Belushi says: "It was maximum punishment to watch it." (after a film called Maximum Punishment) I didn't cringe at the film, but I got nothing out of this film either. I was living in the hope that Joe would beat the hell out of the bully, but of course I knew in my heart that he wouldn't and of course, he didn't. The romance is (for me anyway) meant to be awkward, but I felt no emotion when seeing Julie Bowen and Allen interact. The acting is OK I guess, but let's face it, anyone can play Tim Allen's role as a nobody. Ditto Julie Bowen's role as the love interest and Patrick Warburton as the bully. Every time I see Tim, he's starring in a sub-par or worse film: look at Christmas with the Kranks. Shame. Overall, this is not a terrible movie, just a sub-par one. If you like predictable, half-baked, forgettable comedies, then this is for you. 2/5 stars

source: Joe Somebody

Trailer—Joe Somebody

Joe Somebody

This movie came as a surprise for me, it was much funnier than expected. Joe Sheffer (played by Tim Allen) is tired of being a loser, and decides to do something about it. That involves engaging in a fight with a bully at his work. This is a good starting point for the movie, and it follows up in a good way with many funny moments. Even though James Belushi isn't exactly the best actor around, I think his appearance in this movie was really great. As a former (and now totally forgotten) B-action movie star, his character had played in movies like "Maximum Punishment", "Quick Kill" and "Master of Justice". That was hilarious.

From the ads for this movie you'd think it would be more of a physical comedy bordering on the inane. But it really is a considerably above average movie. Tim Allen has much more depth as an actor than I'd imagined. This is definitely a feel good movie, and a really nice flick. Enjoy it..I did!

This is an excellent family movie, if you have the disc you will want to watch it a second time in a day or two. It is worth having in your collection, you will want to go back to it time and time again. Tim Allen is lovable and does an excellent performance. Julie Bowen also excellent and lovable. The supporting actors and direction were superb. A great underdog movie turning top-dog with a couple scenes that were stretching the imagination. (please excuse the cliché's they are unavoidable.) To make this review submission-able I have to add this last line. I think it deserves a better score than 5.5

That this movie didn't do better than it did at the box office is more an indictment on our culture at large than on the film itself. Genuinely funny (as much as is appropriate for family, sans some the language), it portrays in a simple way a simple message: that, while change and growth are good things, they shouldn't come at the expense of being yourself. If I could have advised "Meg" (played by the always-alluring Julie Bowen), I would tell her that she's right about the big fight between "Joe" and "Mark", but that she should try to understand that, as a guy, it's important for Joe to learn to fight and to at least show up. No, Joe didn't need to beat the snot out of Mark to be a good man--he already was one--but a guy can't back down from challenges. I think that Joe, by showing up and being ready to fight if needed, ended up handling it the best way he could have. And he got a very cute lady--as well as new sartorial skills--to boot!

I really didn't know much about Joe Somebody before I saw it except that it starred Tim Allen as an average Joe who wants to fight a guy who hit him in front of his daughter. But from that it looked like a good concept that more or less resulted to work as a family film and/or for fans of Allen. It's predictable in spots, but it actually brings some actual realism here and there which you definitely wouldn't expect here (and Allen isn't a bad actor here). B or B-

JOE SOMEBODY, in my opinion, is a really excellent movie about not being afraid to stand up for yourself. When Mark (Patrick Warburton) hit Joe (Tim Allen) in the parking lot of their workplace while Natalie (Hayden Panettiere) looked on in terror from the car. However, when she tried to help him, I felt really happy. Also, when a thing between Meg (Julie Bowen) blossomed, I felt even happier. If you ask me, his ex-wife, Callie (Kelly Lynch), was a very pretty lady. Her boyfriend, Rick, on the other hand, was absolutely positively, disgustingly annoying. Now, in conclusion, I highly recommend this really excellent movie about not being afraid to stand up for yourself to any Tim Allen fan who hasn't seen it. You're in for lots of laughter, so go to the video store, rent it or buy it, kick back with a friend, and watch it.