Alright, let's just put this out there right now. I like Kevin James. I do. I think he's a very funny comedian. His stand-up was one of the reasons I decided to get into the game of comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed King of Queens much to the dismay of anyone I'm currently associated with. There are far worse sitcoms out there. Then, the show ended and James decided to start making movies. Now, granted, they're not the greatest argument when it comes to American cinema, but they're fine for what they are. I actually respect the fact that he's out there making movies for families instead of going the crass PG-13/R territory that he very well could have. Paul Blart: Mall Cop wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen and for what it was (a family-oriented movie about a mall cop) I personally don't think it failed. It may not have been for everyone, but it wasn't horrible. Zookeeper also wasn't the steaming pile of Happy Madison porta-potty runoff that it could've been... it actually made me laugh. Would I recommend it to anyone to rent on their own? No. But, that doesn't mean that I walked out of the theater with a sour taste in my mouth (as I did with, say, Jack and Jill)... it had funny moments. Grown Ups, which I attribute more as an Adam Sandler movie than a Kevin James movie was, yeah, awful... but he didn't write it. While he hasn't had that one spectacular role that sets him apart from actors in his comedic field, he also doesn't deserve the hateful scrutiny typically associated with his name.
Now, with that being said, Here Comes The Boom falls right into that same category. It's not going to win any awards (I don't even think it'll win any razzies to be honest) but it's not a genuine waste of film, either. I don't believe anyone will be walking out of the theater, fists clenched shaking towards the heavens cursing the name of Kevin James... it is what it is. And what it is is Kevin James as a down-on-his-luck, apathetic school teacher who decides to become an MMA fighter in order to raise money to help save the music class at his school. And while the film is no Warrior, it's respectable to see James able to incorporate a pretty violent sport into the family comedies he's been doing the last few years. But here's the crazy part-- it's not your typical fat-guy-falls-down-you-laugh type of comedy. In fact, it's not much of a comedy at all. It's a sports movie. The movie doesn't rely on James' classic fat jokes, it's purely about UFC. James actually bulked up adding a little muscle tone, for the role. Now that's fat-guy-comedy dedication right there.
James plays Scott, an indifferent high school biology teacher whose lost his flare for teaching. But, when a budget cut forces the cancellation of Mr. Streb's (Henry Winkler) music class, Scott decides to become an amateur MMA fighter in order to raise $48,000 to save the class, as well as win the heart of fellow teacher Bella (Salma Hayek). It's a simple premise, but one we've seen numerous times. The underdog trains, has a special talent for the sport, rises up and eventually finds himself in the final showdown. It's the atypical sports movie formula with that added Kevin James comedic flair. And the end result, while not perfect by any standards, doesn't fail with its delivery. The fighting is fun and you find yourself actually rooting for James to succeed. I think what separates Kevin James from a lot of the sports comedies released is that he's actually a likable guy (and, come on, who doesn't like Henry Winkler?). There's a certain innocence that emanates from James that's hard to deny in any movie.
Where the movie fails, however, is the second act. While it's certainly appreciated that James did everything in his power to eliminate all fart jokes and fat guy humor, the rest of the comedy is just a bit stale. For every five attempts at jokes, only one seems to land. The training sequences, an element that should be ripe for comedy, are underplayed and less humorous than they should've been. But, it's the third act that really shines. Scott doesn't become a UFC beast. He doesn't magically have what it takes to defeat his opponent, he's still just a simple biology teacher fighting for his school and it really works. If the rest of the movie could've borrowed a little magic from the end, it would've resulted in a better film. However, if the farts were added in, it would've been worse. Vanilla ice cream, while plain to most, is still a treat. And, while this may be my least favorite Kevin James film, I still applaud him for what he's trying to do. He's just still a ways away.
C+
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