Movie Review: Here Comes the Boom
Films opening this weekend in Buffalo:
Argo - Maple Ridge; Amherst, Market Arcade, Flix Dipsons; Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Quaker, Hollywood Regals - REVIEW
Atlas Shrugged: Part 2 - Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Quaker, Hollywood Regals
Here Comes the Boom - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade, Flix Dipsons; Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Quaker, Hollywood Regals; Transit Drive-In
Samsara - North Park Dipson
Searching for Sugar Man - Eastern Hills Dipson
Seven Psychopaths - Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Quaker, Hollywood Regals
Sinister - Maple Ridge; Market Arcade, McKinley Mall, Flix Dipsons; Elmwood, Transit, Galleria, Hollywood Regals; Transit Drive-In
I haven't thoroughly enjoyed a straight Happy Madison production since 2004's 50 First Dates. In all actuality, looking at the list now makes me think it may be the only film I've given three stars to at all. And this is coming from a long-time Adam Sandler apologist. I've finally decided to wake from the drunken stupor Billy Madison's greatness put me under so long ago.
Unsurprisingly, a film without Sandler's key involvement is the one to break the trend. I'm not saying Here Comes the Boom is a three star film—it isn't. It is, however, something of an aberration for the studio due to the fact it strives to be more than just another stupid comedy. Star and co-writer Kevin James is pushing a message above the usual morality tale of overcoming odds inherent to these films by including commentary on the public school system's "cattle pushers" failing the youth of America. It may feel unsubtly tacked on at times, but I applaud the comedian for going beyond a Save the Music spoof by seriously broaching a subject easily ignored in our society currently built on lowest common denominator success.
And I do give full credit to James for this because the whole film is riddled with his buddies on both sides of the camera. Directed by Frank Coraci (Zookeeper) and co-written with Allan Loeb (The Dilemma) and Rock Reuben (King of Queens), he's even enlisted his retired MMA bud Bas Rutten to perform an integral supporting role. James was after all a wrestler in high school—with teammate/friend Mick Foley—who jokes in his stand-up about being a bodybuilder before deciding he enjoyed eating too much. So this film's world is definitely in his wheelhouse. It also makes him believable in the role despite his character being a forty-two-year old high school biology teacher resigned to the fact he can no longer make a difference in his students' lives.
He's not the Rocky of MMA or anything; he's just a feel-good story. Once the school's principal callously announces he's cutting arts classes and teachers, James' Scott Voss finds his mouth running to vow he and the staff will rally around bandleader Marty Streb (Henry Winkler) and raise forty-eight grand before summer to save his job. The journey James' character takes is an eccentric one crossing paths with immigrants, MMA athletes, school nurse Bella Flores (Salma Hayek), students' parents, and a ton of punches and kicks to the face. The laughs are big, although Here Comes the Boom ultimately lives or dies as a result of what happens in the octagon.
James is immensely likeable, and has gotten in pretty good shape and really dives into the role so his ability to endear can be matched by the physicality necessary to survive the abuse. But we know him, and expect him to go all out for laughs, so it's Rutten who steals the show with an infectiously affable demeanor juxtaposing against his formidable presence. As much about him validating his own athleticism as James, the fact they do it for children's education makes the overwrought sentimentality and astronomical success easier to swallow.
Here Comes the Boom 6/10 | ★ ★ ½
photography:
[1] Scott Voss (Kevin James) teaching his biology class in Columbia Pictures' HERE COMES THE BOOM. PHOTO BY: Tracy Bennett © 2012 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. **ALL IMAGES ARE PROPERTY OF SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. SALE, DUPLICATION OR TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
[2] Niko (Bas Rutten), Marty (Henry Winkler) and Mark Dellagrotte cheer on Scott Voss (Kevin James) in Columbia Pictures' HERE COMES THE BOOM. PHOTO BY: Tracy Bennett © 2012 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. **ALL IMAGES ARE PROPERTY OF SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. SALE, DUPLICATION OR TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
[3] Bella (Salma Hayek) and Scott (Kevin James) in Columbia Pictures' HERE COMES THE BOOM. PHOTO BY: Tracy Bennett © 2012 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. **ALL IMAGES ARE PROPERTY OF SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. SALE, DUPLICATION OR TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
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