History Film / MrWoodcock

* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler: Inverted; the movie ends with the now-married Woodcock revealing to John that he and Beverly revealing that they're going to have a baby, then adds "Just joking".]]

* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler: The movie ends with the married Woodcock and Beverly revealing that they're going to have a baby. Much to John's dismay.]]

* PracticallyDifferentGenerations: [[spoiler: John is in his late 20's-early 30's when Woodcock and his mother announce that they're expecting a baby]].

* VillainHasAPoint: While Woodcock's teaching methods can be cruel and extreme, in the opening of the man does make some good points about how strengthening the body and the mind is important.

The movie starts with successful self-help author John Farley coming home to Nebraska to recieve an award; however, trouble comes when his widowed mom Beverly announces she's engaged to his old [=PE=] teacher nemesis, Jasper Woodcock. Not surprisingly, John tries to get them to break it off.

The movie starts with successful self-help author, John Farley, coming home to Nebraska to get a reward, however, trouble comes when his widowed mom, Beverly, announces she's engaged to his old [=PE=] teacher nemesis, Jasper Woodcock. Not surprisingly, John tries to get them to break it off.

** Eventually, it is shown she knew about her son's antagonism with Woodcock, which eventually caused her to initially break off their relationship. She then gave a short but poignant ReasonYouSuckSpeech to John for [[spoiler:repeatedly ruining her chances of starting a new relationship throughout his youth through rebellious activity after his father died until she gave up finding romance, and never once considering how alone she felt all those years as a single mother.]]

* ParentWithNewParamour: Amother source of drama (and comedy) is John coming home to find out that Beverly is engaged and dating Jasper Woodcock.

** Creator/RogerEbert pointed out in his review that John's self-help book can't possibly be any different than any other self-help book, and that John is a bit of a charlatan, making money off other people's weaknesses and fears. He also felt that the film implies that John hasn't kept in touch with his mother much since becoming a popular author, and the only reason he's visiting her is because his book tour happens to be stopping through his hometown.

** He later realizes that Woodcock might just deserve it. As it was John's drive to prove that Woodcock was wrong about him that drove him to become a best selling author.

* FalseRapeAllegation: In a conversation with Beverly, John discusses the mental, emotional and psychological scars that Woodcock inflicted on him. John tells his mother, "He touched me," but then recants his accusation and says the molestation claim isn't true. However, John does comment, "He's mean, and he's cruel."

** John's agent (played by Creator/AmyPoehler) is this to insane levels, although she gets a sort-of comeuppance when a rant against John is seen by Tyra Banks and hundreds of viewers on live TV.

* NotSoDifferent: In spite of his reasons, John does some pretty selfish things throughout the film, to the point where he's almost as bad as Woodcock.
** HeelRealization: John actually does realize that the things he's doing to Woodcock are wrong, and revenge won't resolve anything. Woodcock, on the other hand, never does own up to the abuse he put John through as a child, even outright telling him [[NeverMyFault "It was just gym class!"]]

''Mr. Woodcock'' is a 2007 comedy film starring Seann William Scott, Creator/SusanSarandon, and Creator/BillyBobThornton.

* DeadpanSnarker: Woodcock.