In this
day and age many believe that it is important to be noticed
in order to get ahead at work. While some people believe in
keeping a low profile and letting their work do their talking,
few can dispute that in order to get ahead, it is important
that your supervisors know whom you are and have a good opinion
of you and your work.
However, when a person works day in and day out in virtual
obscurity, hoping that someday their efforts will pay off
in the form of a promotion, tensions can mount. Such is the
case of Joe Scheffer (Tim Allen) in the film Joe Somebody
by director John Pasquin.
Joe is a likeable but quiet man who works in the video department
of a Minnesota Pharmaceutical company. Joe had been promised
a promotion a year ago, and he is still waiting for it to
come through. Joe is also recently divorced, and his ex-wife
Callie(Kelly Lynch) seems more concerned with dragging their
daughter Natalie(Hayden Panettiere), to all manner of bizarre
cultural events than dealing with issues brought on by the
divorce. During a bring your daughter to work day, Joe, has
an encounter with a nasty co-worker Mark McKinney (Patrick
Warburton) who has taken Joes ten year employee parking
spot. Since Mark is not entitled to park in the lot, Joe questions
him about it. In the confrontation that follows, Mark beats
up Joe in full view of his daughter and many co-workers. This
drives Joe into a depression, and he stops coming to work.
Concerned that they could be facing a lawsuit, Joes
company sends a wellness officer named Meg Harper (Julie Bowen),
to Joes home to see what can be done to remedy the problem.
Joe is reluctant at best to listen to what she has to say
even though Joe has liked her from afar for a while. When
asked the question What do you want Joe becomes
puzzled and spends the day pondering the question and eventually
decides that he wants a rematch with Mark to reclaim what
he had taken from him. This decision creates a ripple effect
at work as Joe suddenly becomes popular and is attending the
executive club, parties, and Basketball games in the company
seats. Joe also gets a promotion that he could only dream
of and starts to get lavish clothing and cars to show his
new found success. . While all should be right in Joes
life, his daughter is unhappy with his decision to fight,
as is Meg, which hinders a budding relationship for them.
Propelled with his new confidence and success, Joe recruits
Chuck Scarett (James Belushi), a former action film star turned
instructor to help him prepare for his pending match. While
Chuck seems out of shape and swills beer like it is water,
he knows his stuff and takes on the task of training Joe to
defend himself.
What follows is an entertaining mix of a person living the
life he has dreamed about and learning about the decisions
a person makes in life and how they affect those around you.
Tim Allen is good in the role of Joe as he is a likeable everyman.
His scenes with Julie Bowen are good and they have a very
easy chemistry with one another. Though it is slow in some
parts, Pasquin does a decent job with pacing and brings the
film to an enjoyable if predictable outcome. Allen has worked
with Pasquin in the past ranging from Home Improvement
to The Santa Claus so there is a natural comfort
between then and it shows in the films easy-going manner.
While Not a comedy in the traditional sense, there are some
laughs such as Joe performing Karaoke of The Backstreet Boys
and Belushi almost steeling every scene that he is in.
While not a classic, the film was an entertaining diversion
and if you want a light film to just sit back and relax to,
then this might just be your movie.
3
stars out of 5
Gareth Von Kallenbach
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