Here Comes the Boom (2012)
Starring: Kevin James, Henry Winkler, Bas Rutten, Salma Hayek
--
When budget cuts threaten the continuation of several notable departments - and the livelihood of several long-tenured teachers - high school biology teacher Scott Voss (James) is forced to take a stand. Facing a financial deficit of $48,000, Voss undertakes a one-man fund-raiser in an attempt to save the job of the school's music teacher: his good friend, Marty Streb (Winkler). In order to raise money as quickly as possible, Scott comes up with a hair-brained scheme to, basically, lose a bunch of UFC fights, which offer a $10,000 payout, even in defeat. With the help of a former fighter (Rutten) that Scott meets while teaching night school, the campaign to save the music department begins!
--
The Breakdown:
The Story: Though somewhat predictable, "Here Comes the Boom" is a surprisingly heart-warming story of a man that will go to the most painful of lengths to help a long-time friend. Those who go into this movie expecting nothing more than a couple of laughs will likely be surprised by the underlying moral of the story.
The Acting: This is one of Kevin James' better big-screen roles. He is funny and charming, but not over-the-top, which is nice. Salma Hayek plays the role of the health teacher, Bella Flores, and is, perhaps, as beautiful as ever, but, despite name recognition, her role in the movie takes a back seat to the three prominent male actors (James, Rutten, and Winkler). Bas Rutten bursts gloriously onto the scene with his first major role in a movie and is fantastic in a supporting role. Henry "The Fonz" Winkler really steals the show and provides comic relief nearly every time he graces the screen. (However, the film does make it emphatically evident that Winkler has absolutely no idea how to actually lead music.)
The Genre: Whether intentionally or otherwise, Kevin James has joined the acting fraternity of Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and friends, which has often been to his disadvantage. It's still a little bit silly in some spots, but, thankfully, "Here Comes the Boom" doesn't stoop to that low level of crude humor and profanity that many anti-Sandler moviegoers have been accustomed to. The movie is absolutely family-friendly, breaking the mold that the slimmed-down star of "King of Queens" has been so often fitted into.
--
"Here Comes the Boom" is surprisingly good and is fun for viewers of almost any age, no matter their interest in mixed martial arts. The movie straddles the lines of action sports and romantic-comedy, which makes it great for a night at home with a date or the entire family. It's only February, but, come December, this could very possibly remain standing as one of the most surprising DVD releases of 2013. You may also be interested in: "Warrior" (2011), "School of Rock" (2003), "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" (2009).
--
DVD bonus features:
- Audio in: English, French, Spanish, Thai
- Subtitles in: English, French, Spanish, Thai, Korean, Cantonese, Traditional Chinese
- No other features available on rental version
--
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Running time: 105 minutes
MPAA rating: PG for "bouts of MMA sports violence, some rude humor, and language." Also some crude humor and one scene involving projectile vomit (used for laughs and shown multiple times).
Costars Greg Germann, Charice, Gary Valentine, Joe Rogan
DVD release date: February 5, 2013
--
Looking to find "Here Comes the Boom" on DVD or Blu-ray in the Salt Lake area? Check out these suggested links:
Comments