(...) the movie never rises to the level of the professional, much less the comic. The gags are witless and surprisingly gross (insect splatter, feces disposal bags, inadvertent homosexual come-ons and the like). The four actors, each accustomed to being at the center, never develop any rhythm, any chemistry, any anything. Finally, two-thirds into its aimlessness, the movie turns into a mild parody of a previous parody, THREE AMIGOS. Mistaken for a real motorcycle gang, they save a picturesque town from destruction by the real gang. Oh, the wastage: charming Marisa Tomei, psycho Ray Liotta, plus the big four fronting the pic. It's born to be mild.

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Male menopause spews a lot of exhaust in WILD HOGS, a high-concept middlebrow comedy with Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy as staid suburbanites who decide to discover America a la EASY RIDER. Peter Fonda actually turns up in the closing reel, yet one suspects fictive Captain America is spinning somewhere in his off-highway grave. Uninspired script and broad slapstick yuks won't earn this any plaudits, but slick, safe package should do OK with North American mall auds. (...) Instead, the humor rests primarily on slapstick wipeouts that have no physical consequence, as well as de rigeur crotch kicks and pee-pee/ca-ca stuff. No players are seen to their best advantage (Liotta and Tomei seem especially nonplussed), though Travolta has amusing moments of bogus bravado.

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With its clever premise and quartet of appealing comedic star turns, WILD HOGS is a step above the typical comedies rolling off the assembly lines of the major studios. Unfortunately, though it gets off to a promising beginning, the film soon degenerates into typical slapstick silliness that, while it should prove crowd-pleasing, squanders its considerable comedic potential. (...) Still, the onscreen chemistry demonstrated by the likable performers, who clearly seem to be enjoying one another, goes a long way toward overcoming the film's mechanical and distasteful aspects. And the subplot involving Macy's awkward courtship of a beautiful waitress (...) has a sweetness that contrasts well with the otherwise vulgar humor.

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