You know the thing about ex-Saturday Night Live (SNL) comics who make it to the big screen? They have this penchant for making awkward, out of this world situation movies that they identify as comedy but which clearly escape audiences. Adam Sandler and Will Ferell typifies the genre, visibly inspired by off the wall comedy segments of Andy Kauffman. However, the Kauffman variety are mere segments and stretching them to movies spell disaster because of limited dimension such as the Blues Brothers by Belushi and Ackroyd; Zohan by Sandler, that Will Ferell thingy and yeah a few from Ben Stiller. Surpringly some made good money, the Fockers as an example, which I thought only Jerry Lewis would like.It comes as a great relief that comedy is back to normal with Here Comes the Boom.
For my money this is the best Kevin James flick. Written by James with Allan Loeb and Martin Sollibakke, it comments on the American school system then proceeds to take the guise of an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) movie. It works on so many levels- the situation comedy , the visual gags, the story development- although the main plot comes off as a bit of a stretch.
Once teacher of the year turned slacker, Scott Voss undertakes to save the music program of Wilkenson high from being scrapped because of budget cuts. Among the consequences of the scrapping of the music program is the lay off of his friend Marty (Henry Wrinkler, Happy Days ABC 1974-84) who has a baby coming. His attempt at raising the school funds takes him to a job, teaching American citizen class. There Voss strikes a friendship with Niko (Bas Rutten, UFC Heavy weight, actor The Eliminator 2004 MTI home Videos) who introduces him the UFC where the idea to fight for money germinates. Voss proceeds to take on fights assisted by Marty, Niko and Mark Della Grotte (Pro Muay Thai boxer) to the consternation of principal Becher while continuing to teach biology, additionally, wooing school nurse Bella Flores (Salma Hayek Frida 2002 Miramax) and helping student Malia (Charice Pempengco, Alvin and Chipmunks: the Squeakquel 2009 20th Century) deal with her father (Reggie Lee, Sgt. Wu of Grimm NBC). He succeeds to reach the UFC in MGM Grand through a participant fall out and endorsement of Joe Rogan. In the end, Voss gets the money and the girl as well as bringing harmony back to Wilkenson.
Frank Coraci again megs James after the Zookeeper, a movie also co- written by James. The story telling is paced just right bereft of lingering scenes that exhaust audience patience. It would be tempting to pan back and forth on the faces of James and Hayek on some scenes but I think Coraci made an effort to unhook the action from too gooey romantic sequences. Visual gags work because of timing and the reaction of real UFC fighters who didn't clown as non actors would do. On top of my list is the fight under the rain where the opponents kept slipping, a real riot. Another was when the the whole cage collapsed under the weight of James.
That scene where Voss is shown throwing up on his opponent seems like out of a Sandler movie and should have been clipped. The joke was set up too long from the car where James eats..whatever it was but doesn't really hook on anything except it was done in a fight. That Marquez punch should have been enough to propel the action.
Phil Meheux captured really nice angles in the fight scenes (better than Rocky) and visual gags. I like the opening shot of the motorcycle careening and weaving through traffic in daredevil speed. The rain fight, the trio against James, the collapsed cage and of course the Voss-Dietrich match are among the many visual gems.
Kevin James is a physical comedian in the mold of Buster Keaton and it stood well that focus of the movie was the action instead of the emotion. The table dance, the dunk mishap, the rain fight really took off.
Salma Hayek as the love interest is no stranger to comedy and action flicks displaying her fluidity in both. She wrestles James after dinner in one sequence. Greg German (Ally McBeal 1997-2001 Fox) isn't given much to chew on but sufficiently delineates the role of a hapless principal harassed by budget cuts and an out of control biology teacher. Henry Wrinkler plays goofy Marty that shows how the Fonz would have aged had he become a music teacher. Charice Pempengco is given a lot of exposure in this movie and sufficiently showcases her wares from acting to singing. Reggie Lee who doesn't look Filipino (another actor of Chinese descent, Lucy Lui does not want to look Filipino) plays father to Charice and successfully deviates from Sgt. Wu. Gary Valentine, older brother of James plays...James' older brother. However, the surprise of the show was Bas Rutten who you have to see to appreciate. All the actors who played UFC fighters, the actual fighters and men behind the UFC Joe Rogen and Bruce buffer contributed immensely to lending reality to the film.
Overall I would give the film an eight on a scale of 1-10.
See it and have a nice laugh.
Frank Coraci again megs James after the Zookeeper, a movie also co- written by James. The story telling is paced just right bereft of lingering scenes that exhaust audience patience. It would be tempting to pan back and forth on the faces of James and Hayek on some scenes but I think Coraci made an effort to unhook the action from too gooey romantic sequences. Visual gags work because of timing and the reaction of real UFC fighters who didn't clown as non actors would do. On top of my list is the fight under the rain where the opponents kept slipping, a real riot. Another was when the the whole cage collapsed under the weight of James.
That scene where Voss is shown throwing up on his opponent seems like out of a Sandler movie and should have been clipped. The joke was set up too long from the car where James eats..whatever it was but doesn't really hook on anything except it was done in a fight. That Marquez punch should have been enough to propel the action.
Phil Meheux captured really nice angles in the fight scenes (better than Rocky) and visual gags. I like the opening shot of the motorcycle careening and weaving through traffic in daredevil speed. The rain fight, the trio against James, the collapsed cage and of course the Voss-Dietrich match are among the many visual gems.
Kevin James is a physical comedian in the mold of Buster Keaton and it stood well that focus of the movie was the action instead of the emotion. The table dance, the dunk mishap, the rain fight really took off.
Salma Hayek as the love interest is no stranger to comedy and action flicks displaying her fluidity in both. She wrestles James after dinner in one sequence. Greg German (Ally McBeal 1997-2001 Fox) isn't given much to chew on but sufficiently delineates the role of a hapless principal harassed by budget cuts and an out of control biology teacher. Henry Wrinkler plays goofy Marty that shows how the Fonz would have aged had he become a music teacher. Charice Pempengco is given a lot of exposure in this movie and sufficiently showcases her wares from acting to singing. Reggie Lee who doesn't look Filipino (another actor of Chinese descent, Lucy Lui does not want to look Filipino) plays father to Charice and successfully deviates from Sgt. Wu. Gary Valentine, older brother of James plays...James' older brother. However, the surprise of the show was Bas Rutten who you have to see to appreciate. All the actors who played UFC fighters, the actual fighters and men behind the UFC Joe Rogen and Bruce buffer contributed immensely to lending reality to the film.
Overall I would give the film an eight on a scale of 1-10.
See it and have a nice laugh.
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