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Official Synopsis:
The Foot Fist Way, an uproarious, full-contact comedy featuring one of this year’s least likely heroes, is the first project from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions. Included in Ain’t It Cool News’ Top 10 Films of 2007, THE FOOT FIST WAY became a sensation at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, as audiences fell in love with the seriously self-deluded Tae Kwon Do instructor Fred Simmons, who talks a big, macho game, but falls to pieces when his wife betrays him. Self-control, courtesy, perseverance, integrity and an indomitable spirit – those are the basic tenets preached by the proud but stern Master instructor Simmons at the Concord Tae Kwon Do Studio. There “the way of the foot and the fist,” a.k.a. the definition of the featured Korean martial art, turns boys into black belts and suburbanites into great warriors. That is, until Simmons’ seemingly perfect life starts collapsing when he discovers his wife having an affair on him. Twice. A chance to resurrect his life by battling his hero - the 8-time undefeated champ and star of the “Seven Rings of Pain” trilogy, Chuck “The Truck” Wallace - gives Simmons’ life purpose as he winds up on a wild, comic journey that will take him from egomaniacal bluster all the way to becoming the stand-up man of his delusional dreams.
Our Take:
The Foot Fist Way is a first film. When I say that, I mean that when you watch it you can easily see that the creators obviously have talent but their skills haven’t been tuned enough to create an overall product that works as much more than a calling card…
…which is exactly what happened for Danny McBride as the likes of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay saw The Foot Fist Way in its infancy, recognized the talent behind it and made sure Mr. McBride would become a comedic star, much to my editor’s chagrin.
And while that’s all fine and dandy since I absolutely love the comedic stylings of Danny McBride, that doesn’t really elevate this film up to the level of comedy I’ve come to expect out of him. While it’s a film I enjoyed, it’s not a film I would ever yearn to pop back into the player.
Special features include:
* Commentary - With Danny McBride, director Jody Hill and production designer Randy Gambill. It’s always a safe bet that you will enjoy the commentary on a comedy.
* Behind The Scenes Featurette (25 minutes) – The absolute coolest behind-the-scenes featurette I’ve ever seen. More of an art house flick in and of itself than anything else.
* Bloopers (2 minutes) – Only bloopers on two scenes?
I almost feel down on myself for not recommending The Foot Fist Way to you guys, almost like I’m doing something wrong by not telling everyone to go out and support this little movie. Honestly, though, your Danny McBride time can be better spent watching numerous other projects.
Overall Picture:
Movie: B-
DVD: B+
- Landen Chase Pelish
Staff Writer
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