In Hollywood, where slapstick comedy and weak plots usually mark the standard comedy, it is little surprise that rookie director Craig Gillespie’s Mr. Woodcock is hardly a standout.

The plot is weak, the dialogue prosaic and the acting stiff. In fact, there are few truly comedic moments. The only thing that seems to render it bearable is Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of the acerbic jerk Mr. Woodcock, and the occasional comical insights into life that are peppered throughout the 90-minute film.

John Farley (Seann William Scott) is a young, successful, self-help guru who returns home to receive his town’s highest honor — the “Corn Cob Key.” His life is thrown into disarray, however, when he discovers that his former P.E. teacher and tormentor, Mr. Woodcock (Thornton), is dating his mother, Beverly (Susan Sarandon). He struggles to reconcile his image as a self-help guru with his inner insecurities, all while reliving his tormented childhood through the snide remarks and intimidation tactics of Mr. Woodcock.

When John realizes that his mother and Mr. Woodcock will inevitably wed, he enlists the help of a friend (Etha Suplee) to spy on Mr. Woodcock. This leads the trio to a series of confrontational and hilarious events that cause John to realize that he has to embrace his past, not avoid it, in order to move on.

There are some funny moments — mainly each time John tries to interact with his former teacher — but these are few and far between, and the film never gathers much momentum.

Mr. Woodcock, however, is a character that many viewers will be able to identify with: the nasty and terrifying teacher that everyone hated in high school. Thornton portrays Mr. Woodcock to a tee.

John finally has a epiphany and proceeds to mend his relationship with Woodcock, but the ending — as in most comedies with this theme, like in Meet the Parents — is too abrupt and predictable. The scriptwriters, however, manage to partially salvage it by preserving Woodcock’s personality as an insensitive and caustic jerk, allowing the comedic tension and competition between John and Mr. Woodcock to carry on throughout the movie’s credits.

Overall, Mr. Woodcock, while at times humorous and perceptive, is just another run-of-the-mill Hollywood comedy, and not worth the effort it takes to walk the four to five blocks to the AMC theater. But if you happen to be in the area, or have nothing to do, the movie should have just enough funny moments to keep you satisfied.