CHANGE MY LOCATION
Review: ‘Hammer’ hits on many counts
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
)
Adam Carolla plays an amateur boxer who makes an unlikely Olympics bid in “The Hammer.”
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - “The Hammer” might sound like a movie only diehard Adam Carolla fans, however many there may be, could appreciate. The onetime “Man Show” host is in almost every scene, and his performance is as integral to the story’s appeal as any leading man’s could be.
Carolla has worn many hats during his improbable rise, starring on his own reality show after a decade-long run with radio’s “Loveline,” but as a dramatic actor he’s a virtual novice. To his credit, he carries “The Hammer” with self-assured ease, hoisting the film on his broad shoulders while making sure, as screenwriter, to leave some of its sharpest one-liners to his supporting cast.
Then again, who else could play Jerry Ferro, the 40-year-old amateur boxer who gives up construction work to train for the Olympics? Based very loosely on Carolla’s own story — he earned his break training future TV partner Jimmy Kimmel in the ring while supporting himself with his toolbelt — “The Hammer” suggests “Rocky” recast as a dialogue-rich comedy, with the Italian Stallion’s unassuming earnestness mostly intact but complemented by a world-weary sarcasm.
That’s just Carolla, of course. Along with Kevin Hench — known to many for his well-publicized friendship with ESPN’s Sports Guy — Carolla began developing this familiar underdog tale years ago, and it is carefully tailored to his image as the hyper-masculine — though, in this case, failure-prone — everyman.
But the persona is far more palatable than it sounds. Jerry is humble and supremely self-aware, and there is a sweetness beneath the astute, sometimes self-deprecating quips he provides in his wry, nasal deadpan.
Yet he never seems down, and even at his lowest one senses that Jerry is due for a comeback. The opportunity presents itself in the form of an invitation to compete with a young up-and-comer (Harold Moore) for an Olympic berth. The offer isn’t all that it seems — Jerry’s coach (Tom Quinn, of “The Wire”) is using him as an unpaid sparring partner by selling him dreams of redemption on the grandest stage — but it is enough to get Jerry back in the game.
Once there, he proves a worthy adversary, both in the ring, where he enjoys a fairy-tale resurgence, and in his burgeoning relationship with a sweet but only sporadically available public defender (Heather Juergensen). Jerry’s rise is no more likely than Carolla’s own, but in context it comes as no surprise.
“The Hammer” applies its familiar formula artfully, buoyed by Carolla’s incisive humor and the contributions of Juergensen (“Kissing Jessica Stein”) and newcomer Oswaldo Castillo, Carolla’s real-life handyman partner. It doesn’t matter so much that the film’s denouement feels a little too neat when its characters are such a pleasure to watch.
CREDITS
The Hammer (3 stars)
Starring: Adam Carolla, Oswaldo Castillo, Harold House Moore, Heather Juergensen
Written by Kevin Hench, Adam Carolla
Directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Rated R
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:15 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 1, 2008 re: "Review: Streep saves ‘Mamma Mia!’"
Report as inappropriate
5:58 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 28, 2008
re: "Review: Serviceable ‘X-Files’ stands alone"
Report as inappropriate
11:41 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 20, 2008
re: "Review: Streep saves ‘Mamma Mia!’"
Report as inappropriate
5:55 PM MST on Sat., Jul. 5, 2008
re: "Review: An odd kind of hero"
Report as inappropriate
12:23 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 4, 2008
re: "Review: A profile of a ‘Gonzo’ guy"
Report as inappropriate
10:46 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 3, 2008
re: "Review: An odd kind of hero"
Report as inappropriate
3:59 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 15, 2008
re: "‘The Happening’ really isn’t"
Report as inappropriate
9:31 PM MST on Sat., Jun. 14, 2008
re: "‘The Happening’ really isn’t"
Report as inappropriate
10:43 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 14, 2008
re: "‘The Happening’ really isn’t"
Report as inappropriate
1:22 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 13, 2008
re: "Review: ‘Hulk’ isn’t incredible"
Report as inappropriate
10:25 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 13, 2008
re: "Review: ‘Hulk’ isn’t incredible"
Report as inappropriate
9:36 AM MST on Fri., May. 30, 2008
re: "Review: The girls are back in town"
Report as inappropriate
5:31 PM MST on Thu., May. 29, 2008
re: "Review: Goin’ back to ‘Indiana’"
Report as inappropriate
3:32 PM MST on Thu., May. 22, 2008
re: "Review: There will be blood on their hands"
Report as inappropriate
3:28 PM MST on Thu., May. 22, 2008
re: "Review: There will be blood on their hands"
Report as inappropriate
8:25 AM MST on Thu., May. 22, 2008
re: "No need for hollow, horribly acted ‘Speed’"
Report as inappropriate
12:00 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008
re: "Review: Terrorism enters stoned age"
Report as inappropriate
5:18 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008
re: "Review: ‘Nights’ can leave you feeling blue"
Report as inappropriate
8:44 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "Review: Caught in the net of 'Spiderwick’"
Report as inappropriate
6:38 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 20, 2007
re: "Review: ‘Lions for Lambs’ more like medicine than a movie"
Report as inappropriate
1:26 PM MST on Fri., Oct. 12, 2007
re: "Stinks ahoy: ‘Pirates’ a three-hour wreck"
Report as inappropriate
1:30 PM MST on Sun., Sep. 2, 2007
re: "Stinks ahoy: ‘Pirates’ a three-hour wreck"
Report as inappropriate
3:18 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 1, 2007
re: "Unbalanced, powerful ‘Sicko’ a movie that matters"
Report as inappropriate
2:23 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007
re: "Stinks ahoy: ‘Pirates’ a three-hour wreck"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
Bizarre movie! What a waste of time and money!
9 agree | 9 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
the X-files should be filed under Y. the movie didn't make any sense or conformed to the t.v. series. it's about the unknown, the ufo thing. this was about sicky characters who like to cut up people and put them together like frankensteins.
8 agree | 9 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I liked the movie Mama Mia. I saw it with my daughter and thougt it was refreshing... so what that some didn't have thesinging voice but the laughter was always there. I recommend this movie to anyone who just wants to laugh and leave life for a short time. I am not one for musicals and was not happy that my daughter picked this but I was so glad she did!! FUN FUN FUN!!!!
10 agree | 12 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
"Why, after an hour of pratfalls, try to reinvent Hancock as a somber second coming of the Caped Crusader? I like the idea of a disgraced superhero struggling to rehabilitate his image." This specific comment leads me to believe that you missed the point, and that you would rather drop a clever phrase in your own creation, your critique, than do your job as a critic and evaluate fully what was given to you (instead of "what if?") By the way, "Caped Crusader" is a name most often attributed to Bruce Wayne's alter ego, not the "aww, gee" squeaky clean Superman (which I believe is what you inferred). The ending, which focused on the familiar comic themes, of self sacrifice and the powers of the ordinary were very satisfying for this comic fan. The questions left unanswered in the movie are what number one issues are made of. I have a complaint: more of the title's credit should have been given to Bateman and Theron in my opinion. Hancock, albeit misnamed, was a great introduction.
14 agree | 13 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Gone. So? said:
So many seemingly brilliant alcoholic/addicts whose works became extremely popular through the mass media during the latter half of the twentieth century have had such an endelible influence on American culture that by now you'd expect one of them to perhaps become President of the United States. Oh yeah, right, one already has.
19 agree | 15 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
MrHyphy said:
Hancock is a good movie end of story.
15 agree | 17 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
just came back from seeing a movie that i thought would be great but it WAS SOME GARBAGE DON'T WAIST UR TIME OR MONEY VIA MOVIE THEATRE OR DVD
19 agree | 17 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
M. Knight is the modern day equivalent to Alfred Hithcock. I completely disagree with this review and her review of his last two movies. The Village was one his best movies, and The Lady in the Water was also a great movie. Some people just don't have minds capable of seeing outside the box and wondering what if. Case in point, Sally Kline.
20 agree | 21 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
The movie kicked ass!
21 agree | 19 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
You, sir, are an idiot of the highest order.
19 agree | 20 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This was a great movie with a great story line. But hey what would you expect from a critic.
19 agree | 18 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Dear Ms. Katz, You are quite the bitch for revealing that "Big stands Carrie up at the = alter"! Gwen Evans
23 agree | 23 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
wow the review of the new Indiana Jones movie really over rates it--unlike the others it is ALL style and no substance. the movie has a return of karen allen but then does nothing with her; and what is this===Happy Days meets the X Files? it maybe but isnt an Indiana Jones movie.
24 agree | 22 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Cont...With regards to Battle for Haditha (see below): This 'rampage' point of view has been disproven. (3) There is evidence that these Marines were used as scapegoats to appease a liberal media and Anti-War sentiments in the Senate and govt like Murtha. There is evidence of undue command influence in the hubris investigation that ensued. The investigation was unprecedented. These Marines were asked to make split moment decisions under duress that most of us would be hard pressed to do differently under similar circumstances. Interesting fact from the think tank AEI: A poll of tribal leaders across Iraq was recently conducted about US elections and who they would vote for, McCain, Obama, or Clinton. A majority would vote for John McCain but in Al Anbar where Haditha occurred, the tribal leaders want to re-elect George Bush. The Iraqi leaders greatly fear us leaving b/c that would ensure the return of the henchmen who murdered and terrorized the locals. They want peace and stabilit
19 agree | 29 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
With regards to Battle for Haditha: To imply this movie is an accurate representation of the Haditha incident is misguided and disingenuous. This movie is far from an accurate representation of what occurred but conjecture based on misinformation. The truth of what occurred and mistakes made are coming out now. So how did the director possibly know what really happened when he made this movie? These are what we do know now: (1) The incident was a set up from insurgents who were looking to create an Iraq massacre for political gain and as part of their information operations. Al Qaeda filmed the carnage and the American and world media appeased them. (2) There is evidence from drones that there were insurgents fleeing from the buildings the Marines cleared. The Marines who cleared the buildings were not targeting civilians and were following orders. Their intentions were to ensure their own safety and not from a desire to take revenge or go on some kind of rampage. This 'rampage' poin
22 agree | 20 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I have heard a lot of trash about this movie, but I have to disagree. I loved it. The part most people miss is that it stays true to the cartoon that inspired it. Sure, it is hokie, far-fetched and dated, but that's just the way the cartoon was! Besides, this show has a lot of action and happy ending. Who wouldn't like that?
21 agree | 21 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Pretty spot-on review, but critics (even Asian Ameircan critics, who are falling over themselves to celebrate the fact that Asians are starring in a mainstream hit movie without being, well, you know, ASIAN) including Examiner's are missing he huge red flag od sexism that permrates both ,ovies but this one even more so. Yeah, so that's part and parcel of the juvenile, hormone-drenched guy genre, but it doesn't excuse the over-the-top nature of this movie's juvenalia. It almsot negates both the empowring of Asian Americans AND the bits of smart political commentary casually tossed off throughout the dialogue. And BTW, Rossiter, there are no hyphens in "Indian American" and "Korean American."
21 agree | 29 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Melisa said:
The movie was alright - I enjoyed all the cinematic imagery, but I esp. loved the music in the film. I just bought the soundtrack and I can't stop listening to it - really great!
34 agree | 40 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I read the books and I am an adult female that enjoys a good fantasy book without romance in it. Yes, the books are a bit different, but the story line moved quite well even though it was much different from the books. Well done. My whole family watched it and it was entertaining to us.
118 agree | 109 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
mandela said:
"Lions for lambs" is a colossal bore.
251 agree | 221 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Pirates of the Caribbean(all 3)have to be the best movies i have ever seen. This is an extremely harsh review of a completely AWEsome movie! I mean come on there had to be something this reviewer liked about it.
298 agree | 289 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
RE: POTC3 - I found it to be highly entertaining-which is what a movie is supposed to be! Hey, some liked it, some didn't - so what? Johnny Depp made all 3 movies fun to watch (he IS very easy on the eyes)! A lot of people loved it - hence its popularity. Fantasy pictures are fun - much needed in today's world. There are many "serious" movies with plots so convoluted a person would leave the theater confused. With POTC a person could leave the theater laughing (hang the plots) and wanting more. I think sometimes even critics don't know what they want in a movie. But, you can bet your bottom dollar that if there's a POTC4 it'll be a hit - again, hang the "plots", bring on the characters and the FUN! And if the first 3 didn't float your boat then stay home!
327 agree | 322 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I agree with Sally Kline's assessment of Michael Moore's documentary... the film left me thoroughly disgusted with the American healthcare system and disenchanted with the ways my fellow citizens and our policy makers are influenced by the almighty dollar. It's sad and pathetic, and no solution seems in sight...
581 agree | 393 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Jackie said:
I love4 you Johnny and please make more films with you as the pirate I think you are the greattest
601 agree | 375 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree