Here Comes the Boom (DVD REVIEW)
Here Comes the Boom
DVD Review
by Kam Williams
Biology Teacher
Morphs into MMA Prizefighter in Kevin James
Comedy
Scott Voss (Kevin James) is a bored
biology teacher at mythical Wilkinson High in Massachusetts, a cash-strapped school
suffering from low morale. The apathetic slacker is part of the problem, as he
sets a horrible example for his students, between stealing candy from vending
machines and always arriving late for class.
During recess, the bored, 42
year-old bachelor makes a habit of flirting with the beautiful school nurse,
Bella (Salma Hayek). However, she just as routinely rebuffs his advances with gentle
reminders of how often she’s rejected his requests for a date.
The plot thickens the day Principal
Betcher (Gregg German) assembles the faculty in the auditorium to announce his
latest round of budgetary cutbacks. The money-saving measures not only include
plans to eliminate afterschool activities like the debate club and field trips
but even the entire music program.
That means Scott’s colleague Marty
Streb (Henry Winkler) will be callously laid-off right
before earning tenure. And to add insult to injury, the dedicated music teacher’s firing
comes at a time when his wife (Nikki Tyler-Flynn) is pregnant.
This
dire state of affairs inspires Scott to prevail upon the principal to preserve
his pal’s position. But Betcher says he simply doesn’t have the $48,000 to pay
Marty.
Therefore,
Scott, who hasn’t wrestled competitively since college, decides to raise the
cash by moonlighting in the ring as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. With the help
of Marty and a retired kickboxing champ (Bas Rutten), he proceeds to whip
himself into the best shape a middle-aged couch potato might hope for.
So unfolds Here Comes the Boom, a sweet-natured, overcoming-the-odds
sports saga combining familiar elements of Rocky (1976) and Nacho Libre (2006).
Directed by Frank Coraci (The Waterboy), the star vehicle showcases Kevin
James’ comic genius at his best, whether he’s doing pratfalls in a mask and
ill-fitting stretchy pants or futilely wooing the woman of his dreams.
The paint-by-numbers plot inexorably
builds to a UFC-sanctioned showdown between Scott and an intimidating adversary
(Krzysztof Soszynski) for a purse conveniently matching Marty’s salary.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Wilkinson’s student body and school band were on hand in
the Vegas arena to cheer for their altruistic teach, and better yet if Bella
had a change of heart and also arrived ringside for a kiss at the moment of
truth?
Here Comes the Boom? How about, here
comes a pat Hollywood tale of redemption where a perennial loser transforms
himself into a beloved hero who wins the cage match, saves his best friend’s
job, and gets the gorgeous girl!
Very Good
(3 stars)
Rated PG for sports violence, crude humor and mild epithets.
Running time: 105 minutes
Distributor: Sony
Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Deleted
scenes; gag reel; and a cast featurette.
To see a trailer for Here Comes the Boom, visit:
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