JOE SOMEBODY
US, 2001, 98 minutes, Colour.
Tim Allen, Julie Bowen, Kelly Lynch, Greg Germann, Hayden Panettiere, Patrick Warburton, James Belushi.
Directed by John Pasquin.
Joe Somebody is a family-friendly film about a worker who was taken for granted in his company for ten years (an expert in video production and design). Divorced from his wife (Kelly Lynch), he is devoted to his daughter (a young Hayden Panettiere). He is humiliated by the workplace bully (Patrick Warburton) who takes his parking spot and then punches him in front of his daughter. He decides to do something about it, gets some training from a failed martial arts movie star (James Belushi, very funny in the role) and suddenly wins the approval of most of the people who had ignored him. Greg Germann is one of the bosses responsible for morale. He is attracted to Meg Harper, the counsellor, who is sympathetic to Joe Somebody.
The film is a star vehicle for Tim Allen who had worked with the director John Pasquin in many episodes of Home Improvements as well as in the films The Santa Clause and Jungle to Jungle.
The film seems to be leading in the direction of slugging it out for some kind of conflict resolution – but, at the end, Joe stands up for himself without landing a blow and this is appreciated from his opponent. A nice anti-violence moral.
1.An entertaining comedy? Dramatic touches?
2.The setting: the company, offices, parking spaces? School? Homes? Audiences identifying with the setting? Musical score?
3.The title, Joe Scheffer and people not remembering his name? His wanting to be somebody? His being downtrodden for ten years, in the company, at home? His self-assertion, his wanting to impress Natalie? His ways of going about becoming somebody, the martial arts training? The popularity? The love of Meg? His final decision – non-violence?
4.Tim Allen as Joe, the marriage breaking up, visiting Callie and her boyfriend? His love for Natalie, taking her to school? His work, skills, being passed over for promotion? Jeremy and his antagonism? Meg and her concern, her helping her put up the notice, his awkwardness with the staples? His attraction towards her, tongue-tied? Natalie at the company, children’s day, Mark taking his parking space, the confrontation, the punch-up? The reaction of the authorities? His staying away from work, humiliated, concerned about Natalie? Meg and her visit? His eventually coming back, people talking about him confronting Mark, everybody feting him, playing squash, meals, drinks? The popularity and his being somebody? His going to the martial arts training? Chuck and his background, style, the work together? The discussions? His being influenced by Chuck’s own career? The build-up to the confrontation, Meg’s attitude, Natalie and her watching? His confronting Mark, his walking away? The crowd surprised? Natalie and Meg happy? Mark’s apology? His becoming somebody?
5.Natalie, her love for her father, their being together, the outings? Her wariness about her mother and her boyfriend? The drama and theatre background? Witnessing her father’s humiliation? Discussions with him, not wanting him to fight, her happiness at seeing the final result?
6.Meg, in the office, the counsellor, friendly with Joe? Her relationship with Jeremy, Jeremy and his self-centredness? Imposing himself on Meg? Her love for Joe, supporting him, meeting Natalie? The final confrontation, a final happiness? Jeremy and the put-down, and his having to change his tone?
7.Mark, the bully, taking the parking space, big, confronting Joe? The final confrontation and his apology?
8.Chuck, his career in films, his becoming sick of it? Setting up the school? His own personal life? Friendship with Joe, the training, the hits and the moves? His watching the confrontation, his being pleased at Joe’s decision?
9.A pleasant comedy – family-friendly?
