Slapstick is pathetic in 'Hoot'

HOOT — ** — Logan Lerman, Luke Wilson, Brie Larson; rated PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).

"Hoot" features some thoughtful observations about what's wrong with corporate America, about the perils of school bullies and about conservation efforts, in particular "protected" wildlife.

As high-minded as that material is, however, this silly family comedy also features some of the dumbest slapstick this side of the Disney Channel.

It's obvious the filmmakers thought they had to throw in that kind of material to make the messages go down easier. But it's just too juvenile.

This adaptation of journalist-turned-author Carl Hiaasen's award-winning young-adult novel stars Logan Lerman as teenager Roy Eberhardt, whose family has just moved from Montana to Florida. As the new kid, he's already being picked on by the school bully (Eric Phillips).

Roy is also fascinated by a mysterious teenager (Cody Linley) who runs around town barefoot. So he decides to investigate and discovers a connection between the mysterious runner and some recent vandalism at the construction site for a new pancake restaurant.

The construction foreman (Tim Blake Nelson) and an eager-beaver deputy (Luke Wilson) have been trying to catch the culprit red-handed but so far have been unsuccessful.

The film is not entirely painful. Lerman (TV's "Jack & Bobby") is pretty likable, and his on-screen relationship with another student (Brie Larson) is believable. And the Everglades scenery is pretty spectacular.

However, watching pros like Nelson and Wilson flounder in dumb slapstick scenes is embarrassing, as is the performance by musician Jimmy Buffett, who helped produce the film, contributed to its soundtrack and has a brief role as one of Roy's teachers. He's a far better musician than actor, and that's not really saying much.

"Hoot" is rated PG for comic violence (vehicular mayhem, acts of vandalism and some school bullying), as well as some use of vulgar slang terms and mild profanity (mostly religiously based). Running time: 90 minutes.

---

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com