In Fist Fight, it's the last day of school at Roosevelt High School. Senior pranks are going off left and right (and I'm not talking about simple pranks either-- these are elaborate and disgusting pranks that would land any high schooler trying to pull one off in jail). Andy Campbell (Charlie Day) is a gigantic wimp who also doubles as an English teacher. He's got a pregnant wife, a bullied daughter, and a meeting at 2:30 that may or may not lead to him being laid off with half the school due to budget cuts. Cue Mr. Strickland (Ice Cube), a tough-as-nails History teacher decidedly fed up with the lack of respect from both students and administration. When a student in his class pushes him a bit too far, he takes an axe to the student's desk. When Strickland and Campbell are called into the Principal's office, Campbell narcs immediately. This, in turn, gets Strickland fired and he challenges Campbell to a fist fight after school. The remainder of the movie is Campbell doing everything in his power to fanagle his way out of the fight.
There's actually a pretty good lesson in the film about how sometimes in life there are unavoidable conflicts and no matter how hard you try to get out of or around these conflicts, sometimes you just have to understand the potential consequences and face it like a man. This is the revelation that happens to Campbell throughout the movie and it's a decent lesson. The problem really is... most of the movie isn't that funny. It's a very high concept script with a couple of very funny people... that don't really get a ton to work with. The bulk of the script's "laughs" are comprised of all the different elaborate senior pranks being pulled. They're unbelievably outrageous and after one or two the school would be on lockdown with cops swarming. So, instead of guffawing with laughter, you're left wondering how in the hell any one of these students have gotten away with anything they've done (like giving a live horse meth, spray-painting it, tying it around a teacher's leg, having the horse drag the teacher down the hall while being shot by barrels of paint...). Then, if they're not elaborate, they're the same drawing-a-dick-on-the-football-field joke over and over again.
The next draw for laughs comes from the situation of a teacher fight happening on campus. By the end of first period every student is privy to the fight, yet not another single teacher is aware. And when police are called, they laugh it off. Yes, this is a comedy, but there don't seem to be very many consequences for any of the people in the movie doing highly illegal things. Either way-- you can let that go. Finally, it's in the characters. Charlie Day is the leading man, who now must be relatable, so he's normal-- and he's kind of a pussy. It's a different Charlie Day than we're used to, and it's not particularly that funny (there are moments). Ice Cube isn't exactly a natural comedian-- he can be damn funny-- but if he's supposed to be the wildcard to Charlie Day's straight man-- there's not a ton of laughs to be made. Tracy Morgan, who I have never really been a fan of, is probably at his least funny in this movie. The (clearly improvised) lines that come out of his mouth kept not just myself, but our entire theater silent. Then, Jillian Bell, who plays a horny guidance counselor, continues her schtick from Workaholics, and while it isn't unfunny... it might just be a tad overplayed now.
I know it sounds like I'm entirely bashing the film and making it seem like there is nothing redeeming about it, which isn't entirely true. It's a high concept comedy that mostly falls flat when a more mature comedic writer/director could've made it work. However, that being said, the final act of the film is pretty hilarious. Like I mentioned, Charlie Day as the straight man isn't really anything too exciting to watch-- in fact, it can get kind of dull, like the first act of the film. However, when he's finally "become a man" and finally lost all scruples... and gone a little bit nuts... he becomes the wild and crazy Charlie Day we know and love. So, the final act... when the fight finally occurs is actually very funny. There were three ways for the movie to end: First, everyone learns a lesson, people put aside differences, and the fight never happens, but some clever trickery on the school does. If it's done cleverly, this ending can work, but the build up is for nothing. Second, the fight can be over in one punch. It's funny... but also kind of expected. And finally, there is an all out brawl between Charlie Day and Ice Cube and everything that's been build up... that you've been waiting for... is executed perfectly and hilariously making you somewhat forget that everything leading up to the fight has been kinda shitty.
I didn't hate the movie. There are definitely moments where I found myself chuckling. But, the only time I was really laughing consistently was during the fight. Some of the interactions with the side characters were decently funny (literally none with Tracy Morgan), but some just went laughless (like Christina Hendrick's character-- does absolutely nothing in the movie... contributes nowhere... and her character makes zero sense). And while Charlie Day and Ice Cube do have a bit of chemistry in the film, it's not enough to hold down an underdeveloped script. This is definitely one of those-- you just bought yourself a 12-pack and need something to watch type movies.
C
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