Making the Grades
Someone once said, "The goal in life is to die young as late as possible". But for the Wild Hogs, a weekend motorcycle group made up of four old high school chums afflicted with middle-age spread and saddled with the responsibilities of family and career, life is feeling old before it's time. And about the only thing left of their carefree, pubescent period is the childish outbursts they occasionally succumb to.
Then Woody (John Travolta) proposes a cross-country road trip. No maps, no technological gadgets, no time restraints, and no helmets (okay, that one is stupid) -- just the men, their bikes and the open road.
Initially, the other members whimper about why they can't go on such a ride, even though they are fed up with their predictable, suburban lives. Doug (Tim Allen) can't imagine taking a break from his dental office. Bobby (Martin Lawrence) is troubled about coming up with a feasible story to tell his overbearing wife. And Dudley (William H. Macy), the blithely clueless computer geek, worries about looking the part of a real biker. (He finally goes all out and has the Apple computer logo tattooed onto his bicep.)
Ultimately though, they work through their excuses and hit the pavement. Once underway, the men feel their groove coming back when they are ogled by a bunch of teenaged girls. However, the riders soon get more than they bargained for when a gay highway patrolman mistakenly believes they are having homosexual sex and wants in on the action. To make things worse, the weekend warriors cross paths with real bikers in New Mexico. After inadvertently, burning down the Del Fuegos's hangout, the Wild Hogs find themselves holed up in a little town trying to avoid the inevitable aftermath of their mistake.
This buddy movie is clearly aimed at the over 40 crowd -- those who understand the concept of a little paunch worn with a certain panache. Like many adults, these men come to realize the value of longtime friendships and gain an appreciation for the ability they have to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. Yet their antics often waffle between daft (like throwing camping fuel on an already burning tent) and downright questionable (taking on a whole gang of irate bikers).
However, teens and children probably won't be clamoring to see this film featuring middle-aged actors. And that's not all bad because they'll miss the sexually-laden remarks and innuendo making up much of the script. They'll also avoid the repeated exposure of male buttocks and the fist fights between rival gang members. Even the target audience, that is more apt to appreciate the motivation behind this road trip, may still find themselves wondering at the characters' distinction between aging gracefully and simply forgetting to grow up.
Discussion Ideas After The Movie
Teaching ideas and topics to discuss about Wild Hogs.
Is middle age as negative as it is portrayed in the movies? What types of experiences can make a person take stock of his or her life? What struggles can be inherent to this time of life?
Peer pressure is often considered to be a challenge for teenagers and children, but how does it affect these men when they play “slap the bull”? In what other instances do the men succumb to coercion from their friends?
How do the people work together to take back their town? Why are some kinds of projects more successful when undertaken by a large group? What community efforts have you been, or would you like to be, involved in?