MR WOODCOCK STARS RECALL MEAN GYM TEACHERS

Billy Bob Thornton played a coach before in Friday Night Lights but he’s added the laughs playing an elementary school physical education teacher in Mr. Woodcock who is happiest when harassing his students.

Billy Bob whose own father was a high school basketball coach knows all too well the strict style some teachers can use to discipline their students.

“Sort of the nightmare that all kids have in junior high school and middle school as their P.E. teacher. He’s a little bit more intense than some though. I don’t know anybody who hasn’t at some point in their school career had a coach, a P.E. teacher at least similar to this, you know. Like I said before, maybe not to this degree but definitely in the ballpark. There’s just something about P.E. teachers, they got a little bit of a hard ass streak to them.”

Seann William Scott plays the object of Mr. Woodcock’s torment as he’s the fat kid in class that he tortures with extra laps and chin-ups. When his character trims down and writes a best seller based on letting go of the past, he returns to his home town only to discover his mother has fallen for his nemesis.

“He just hasn’t been able to let go of his experiences with this teacher. I think a lot of kids have had experiences like that where either a teacher or a coach were really hard and as you grow up you probably exaggerate your experiences. It’s like the guy who catches the fish and the more times he tells the story the fish keeps getting bigger and bigger. I think it’s like carrying those experiences with you and unfortunately this guy has never really let go of them.”

Seann William Scott and Billy Bob Thornton bonded during their wrestling scenes together where he came away unscathed but Thornton broke his foot, another movie injury he can now add to his resume having cracked his ribs and pelvis on the job. Mr. Woodcock is currently playing in theaters.