Aaron Eckhart was amazing in the 2006 film Thank You for Smoking as tobacco lobbyist Nick Naylor. He was capable of making a smug character likable. Unfortunately, his Bill character in Meet Bill lacks the same charm and whit. Eckhart stars in the title role as an overweight loser who works at a local bank as a vice-president. At his job, he is constantly bullied by his father-in-law who is no other than the president of the bank as well. Based on these circumstances, Bill is essentially Lester Burnham from American Beauty, minus the receding hairline.
Early in the film, Bill happens to stumble upon his wife’s (Elizabeth Banks) affair with a local news reporter (Timothy Olyphant). Fate has other plans for Bill as he unwillingly enters a mentoring program for high school students amidst his current turmoil. One of the students (Logan Lerman) takes a liking to Bill and realizes how pathetic the poor sap’s life is. With the help of a lingerie clerk (Jessica Alba) the trio plan to get Bill’s wife back and help him enjoy life.
There is nothing original about Meet Bill, hence, the previous American Beauty reference. Ironically, the film has been collecting dust on the shelves for the past two years now. I bet First Look Studios were skeptical about Meet Bill finding an audience. All of the performances in the film were awful. I did not expect Eckhart to rise above a script where his character is obsessed with owning a donut franchise. Is it just me, or is there something really creepy about a middle-aged man smoking marijuana, picking up women, and having overnight sleepovers with a teenage boy? Overall, Meet Bill has no redeeming qualities and can be added in the trilogy of the worst Jessica Abla films of 2008 (The Eye and The Love Guru).
Film Grade: D-
Popularity: 29% [?]
August 31st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I saw this one as well, though I didn’t think it was as bad as everyone thought it was, it was very over reaching. Eckhart can do better, Harvey Dent for example.
August 31st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Per my review, I thought the film was awful. Eckhart needs a few more good films under his belt to redeem himself for ”Meet Bill” and ”No Reservations.”
August 31st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I missed No Reservations, not a big fan of Zeta-Jones, she drag any good movie down. I loved Thank You For Smoking though, great stuff. Nice review.