The Foot Fist Way (Tae Kwan Do)
Written: Nov 28 '08 (Updated Nov 28 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Danny McBride's breakout movie
Cons: The third act isn't all that funny
The Bottom Line: It falls apart in the third act, but the rest of it is pretty funny.
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| phungus's Full Review: The Foot Fist Way |
I first heard about The Foot Fist Way when some guys at work were laughing at the trailer because they thought the main character, played by Danny McBride, reminded them of someone they knew. Basically, this is a Will Ferrell movie without Will Ferrell. It's plenty offensive, but also delivers quite a few laughs. The title of the movie is the literal translation of Tae Kwan Do.
Danny McBride, who has gone on to memorable supporting roles in movies like Hot Rod and Tropic Thunder, plays an egotistical Tae Kwan Do instructor who thinks he can take on anybody and is in total control of his world. He's a real cheeseball, and he's so full of himself that he can't see his own faults. When his wife cheats on him and then leaves him, his whole world comes crumbling down because he realizes he is no longer in control of everything. This spills over to his training center where it is reflected on his students.
McBride's character is completely over the top, but it works thanks to his convincing performance. He sort of reminded me of the old ‘kick me in the jimmy!' coach from Beavis & Butthead. His twangy Southern accent (which is real) also helps to solidify the character's over-confident redneck persona, and his blonde bimbo wife adds another layer that makes it all work. As soon as we meet this character, you have to wonder why she married him and why how he ever got as far in martial arts as he did.
There's also a subplot that is interesting, but ends up not being as funny as it could have been. McBride's character idolizes a martial artist who turned actor and basically just made a couple of really awful action movies. In McBride's eyes, he's the ultimate in winning and success, but that all goes to hell when they actually meet the guy. It ends up being a lot more sad than funny, which may have been the filmmaker's intention in the first place.
This movie really isn't for kids, even though it has a lot of young cast members. There's a bunch of profanity, but also some scenes that border on child abuse when it shows kids getting kicked in the head. There's also one scene where an old lady gets punched in the stomach, then kicked while she is still on the ground, and that's all part of the ‘training'. I know physical comedy usually amounts to ‘pain is funny' stuff, but some people may be offended. Film critic Roger Ebert sure was if you look up his review of this movie.
The Foot Fist Way is probably one of those movies most people never would have heard about had it not been for Danny McBride gaining fame in bigger movies. I'm not going to say it is a great comedy or anything, but it is worth a few laughs. If you like Will Ferrell movies, you'll probably find something to like about this one.
Recommended:
Yes
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phungus
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Member: William Fulks
Location: Biloxi, MS
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