Meet Bill (2007)

Premise is Adventures of a (presumably) working class Son-in-Law in a Dysfunctional rich family. This is a great premise. There are at least 2 funny TV series on based on this plot. First 15 minutes of this movie are exciting & you think you are in for a 2 hour ride of comic situations involving rich people doing unbelievably stupid stuff. Camera work is also nice. Acting looks decent. If you've seen Aaron's "Thanks You for Smoking" earlier, you know that he can play his part in a witty movie.

However post 15 minutes, it appears that someone else decided to finish the project with high school kids in director's/ editor's/ script writer's chair. Nothing seems to move forward or unfold or deepen the characters. Funny situations blow up before the punch line. Most of the sub-plots are totally inconsequential. And if someone thinks they made a movie dealing with existential dilemma, I am sorry to inform them that's certainly not the case here.

6.4 ? Really, my fellow IMDBians ? This turkey is 6.4 ? Tarsem Singh's "The Cell" is 6.2. Al Pancio's "88 minutes" is 5.9. I am giving it 3 stars for the casting dept, which did a fantastic job in casting hugely talented Aaron and shapely Ms.Banks.

Fmovies: Whoever could have guessed that suave, manicured, handsome-devil Aaron Eckhart would become our next great sad-sack comedian? The rubber-face which Eckhart uses here, playing a disgruntled, disappointed, directionless human resources exec at his father-in-law's bank, is nothing short of remarkable. Cast as middle-aged Bill, Eckhart is extremely courageous and focused--too focused to become a ham, yet silly and flexible enough to keep this bumpy comedy buoyant and entertaining. The tone of the picture is half-black comedy/half-upper class satire, with possibly too many targets and characters on its plate. Still, the women in Bill's life (Elizabeth Banks as his cheating spouse and Jessica Alba as a friendly neighborhood salesgirl) each have their strong moments, and Eckhart's scenes with his gay brother and assorted in-laws are pungent and ripe with nearly-realized stinging possibilities. What doesn't quite work is the sub-plot with a mouthy teenager choosing Bill to be his "mentor" (also, a duck-hunting sequence with Bill's wife's family is also flabby, its only purpose demonstrating their need to humiliate Bill--and he being oblivious). The filmmakers are careful to let Bill be his own person--he's often a target, but rarely is he victimized. It's to Eckhart's credit that this stepped-on character remains likable and respectable (no pathos or pity here, and none are necessary). Whether entertaining guests in his camping tent or getting his weary body back into shape, Bill is lurching, funny, struggling, and very human. I didn't quite buy the happy ending, with its vitriolic "I don't where I'm going, but I'm excited" sentiments, but Aaron Eckhart makes this guy a joy--and for a knockabout, second-string comedy, that's a real achievement. **1/2 from ****

This film is about a man married to a woman from a powerful family undergoing a midlife crisis. Unexpectedly, a high school student helps him through it.

Bill is portrayed to be a complete loser. He realises that he is a loser, and wants to change. The pathetic state he is in is funny and evokes sympathy at the same time. The transformation is quite dramatic, and it is quite a surprise to see Aaron Eckhart shaving himself. I would not have thought that an actor would do that, but then they are probably paid millions of dollars for that scene.

The kid's charming and cheerful persona shines, and I feel that he is the true star in the film. Jessica Alba is as charming and adorable as usual. These three characters interact together with great charm, and makes "Meet Bill" a pleasure to watch.

Meet Bill fmovies. Meet Bill is a bad film. There is no way around it. Aaron Eckhart, who was amazing in Thank You For Smoking, seems to be attempting a Jim Carrey-style comedic performance, and it doesn't work at all. His performance as an obnoxious, petty, immature 40-something is unpleasant to watch. It is not entertaining or funny, just uncomfortable. The plot is pretty simple: Bill is working for his father-in-law at a very successful bank and is unhappy; his wife cheats on him, things fall apart.

The other characters seem to exist just to help Bill find out who he really is or something like that. Jessica Alba is one of these. She plays a cashier at a Victoria's Secret who befriends Bill and his young mentee. She doesn't really put any effort into her role, but I don't blame her because her character was wildly underdeveloped. She has no real motivation in the film- she's just there to help Bill regain his confidence. Young actor Logan Lerman plays Bill's mentee- a private school kid with a bottomless allowance, a disturbing infatuation with Alba's character, and an inexplicable desire to spend all of his time with Bill. Craig Bierko plays Bill's gay brother, who sits around trying to talk sense to him and does little else.

Elizabeth Banks is OK as Bill's wife, and it is perhaps the only redeeming quality of the film that she is not completely villainized. The only highlight if the film comes in the form if Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis of the current SNL cast, who plays representatives of a donut franchise Bill is trying to get involved with.

The script is aimless, the dialog horrible, and the conclusion completely unsatisfying. I really wished I hadn't watched this movie by the time it ended.

I attended the World Premiere of "Bill" at the Toronto International Film Festival. That fact alone is actually surprising to me, as my viewing habits tend to lean towards dramas, and this is anything but. In fact, festivals this year have been weighed down by heavy films that are about as dark as they come. "Bill" could not be more different, and what a refreshing change and much-needed uplift is this all-out, unabashed comedy. Co-directed by the husband-wife team of Bernie Goldmann and Melissa Wallack (who penned the script), "Bill" has all the elements required of the genre: characters to whom we can relate, a clever storyline, and laughs aplenty.

Aaron Eckhart ("Any Given Sunday," "Erin Brockovich," "Thank You for Smoking") is Bill, smack dab in the middle of a life becoming all-too familiar. His job is falling apart (he begrudgingly works for his irascible father-in-law), his marriage is going to pieces, his body is going to pot, and, perhaps most horrifying, his hair is rejecting his head. Bill needs a change, fast, and is not-so-voluntarily signed up for a mentoring program at the local high school. He is teamed up with young Logan Lerman ("The Butterfly Effect," "Hoot," "3:10 to Yuma"), who plays The Kid, literally (Lerman's character is never identified by name), and the two join together in battle to fight the demons at the heart of Bill's midlife crisis.

A magnificent ensemble cast including Elizabeth Banks, Timothy Olyphant, Jessica Alba, and Kristen Wiig (and far too many more to mention) are all up to the task of providing enough comedic fodder to fill several films. Discussing their characters in depth would be too revealing, and my policy is to allow the reader to find a synopsis elsewhere if desired. Ultimately the partnership between Bill and The Kid is what drives the story, and the chemistry between Eckhart and Lerman is central to the success of the film. And it works. The Kid is smart, streetwise, sexy (or so he thinks), and has the self-confidence of someone thrice his age. In short, he's everything Bill aspires to be. It's a role-reversal device that's at the heart of many classic comedies, and Wallack's brilliant writing makes it work.

Despite being an independent film (read: low budget) "Bill" has the look of a Hollywood movie. The design is bright and the sound and editing give it a crisp, bouncy feel. Best of all, the cinematography with Peter Lyons Collister at the helm is second to none. He's one of the best in the business, a classic comedy veteran, and it shows.

It's always hard to single anyone out in a fine ensemble cast but in both screenings I attended Lerman stole the show. He unquestionably got the biggest laughs and was the crowd favorite. I hesitate to call him a newcomer, as at the tender age of 15 he already has 10 movies and 23 television episodes under his belt, but he's one to watch for and has a bright career ahead of him. But this is Eckhart's film to make or break, and his sense of comedic timing and puppy-like ability to elicit just the right amount of empathy from the audience create those touching moments that leave the viewer wanting more. And so I attended the second screening as well, and enjoyed it even more. And that's the true test of a comedy. From this writer's perspective, "Bill" not only hits its mark but is also sure to be a winner for years to come.

I just watched Meet Bill last night, and while it wasn't fantastic, it was definitely worth the watch.

This movie follows the main character Bill, who, after a series of downfalls, realizes life isn't going they way he wanted. He then offers to mentor a rich, self-assured high school student. In the end, the student more or less ends up mentoring Bill, and helps him to change his views on life.

I thought the chemistry between Logan Lerman (the kid) and Aaron Eckhart (Bill) was fantastic! they both did a great job with their role, and stole the whole show. These roles were out of style for both actors--I've never seen Eckhart do comedy, and Lerman's character was much more rebellious than usual. It just shows the talent of both actors, especially the versatility of Lerman. The rest of the supporting characters were slightly under-developed.

The style of comedy in this movie is more..."old school" in my opinion. It's not slap-stick or non-stop laughter, but the comedy is inter-weaved throughout the film, with several vary funny scenes and one-liners. I would say the film is geared toward audiences from the mid 20s to mid 40s. However, I am a 16 year old female, and I enjoyed the film.

The plot does get lost a bit, and some characters are under-developed, but overall it's a good independent film. Is it the best or funniest movie you'll ever see? Probably not. But it delivers a style of comedy not found often these days, and if you connect with the style and the story, you will definitely like this movie.