Owen Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Amanda Bynes to film in Atlanta

Bobby and Peter Farrelly, commonly known as The Farrelly Brothers, are teaming up once again for what has become their specialty – a quirky feel good comedy with an edge. Best known for such entries as Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Me, Myself and Irene and Shallow Hal, this time out they are tackling the subject of infidelity.

“Hall Pass” addresses wanderlust head on with the premise of two married woman giving their husbands a “hall pass” to have extramarital affairs without repercussions, only to go out and play the field themselves. Married people everywhere will testify that this is pure, unadulterated (pun intended) fantasy, but then again, this is the stock and trade of The Farrelly Brothers. They have a penchant for blatant and unapologetic Hollywood entertainism, with the caveat that they also have shown the ability to pass along deeper meaning as in Shallow Hal where Jack Black’s character learns to see beyond external beauty.

An unlikely yet refreshing cast is taking shape starting with box office golden boy Owen Wilson, moving on to television’s quintessential girl next door Jenna Fischer and then recently added former teen star Amanda Bynes who is now the ripe old age of 24. Filming is set to begin next week in Atanta and casting has begun for extras. Owen Wilson shows no signs of slowing down since a suicide attempt in the summer of 2007, since recently he has been tapped by Woody Allen for a yet un-named project.

The screenplay for Hall Pass was written by the Farrelly Brothers along with Kevin Barnett and Pete Jones. It is to be distributed by New Line Cinema, once a smaller independent studio which has emerged as a force to be reckoned with after being catapulted by the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

John Villec at whooznext.com