Hall Pass

Hall Pass continues a string of relatively funny—if not altogether sidesplitting—films from the Farrelly brothers. Seventeen years removed from their debut (Dumb and Dumber), Peter and Bobby continue to get cheap laughs out of gross sight gags. You will groan, and you will fidget at times, but if you are among those who laughed at Kingpin and There’s Something About Mary, Hall Pass should induce some spirited guffaws. When middle-age real estate agent Rick (Owen Wilson) gets busted one too many times for misdeeds involving apparent sexual dissatisfaction, wife Maggie (Jenna Fischer) gets fed up and grants him a “hall pass.” For one week, he can do whatever he wants sexually with other women, no questions asked. Rick’s best friend, Fred (Jason Sudeikis), is granted the same gift by his wife, Grace (Christina Applegate), due to a far more salacious infraction involving his automobile, and the two head out for seven days of debauchery. With other friends observing, the party starts at Applebee’s and goes downhill from there.