Review - Here Comes The Boom

Submit Yourself To Laughs

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has really taken off in our society today. The disciplines of wrestling, judo, boxing, karate, kick boxing and many others are on display as warriors grapple with each other to leave the octagon as a winner. But did anyone ever envision Kevin James stepping in the octagon? Well he does in Here Comes the Boom, but how does it happen?

Scott Voss (Kevin James) is a teacher. The former teacher of the year is now going through the motions as he has lost a lot of his energy. He is envious of the way that fellow teacher Marty Streb (Henry Winkler) has his class producing and engaged on a daily basis.

But as it always is, a new budget year is upon the school that calls for cutbacks. Music is on the chopping block and Marty is about to be out of a job. It’s ok with many of the staff, but Scott doesn’t want to see it happen. He’s decided everyone needs to step up before music and Marty are no longer part of his school.

Trying to teach adults that are preparing for the citizenship exam is not going to get the $40,000 they are looking to raise, it will take something more. Scott has a student in his class, Niko (Bas Rutten) that formerly fought MMA. When Scott finds out you can make thousands for one fight in the MMA, it’s time to put his past wrestling prowess to the test. But no MMA fighter starts at the top and big time. He must earn is way through $100 matches to get to $40,000 and save his friend’s career. Can he?

Let’s set aside the silliness of this story. A teacher that hasn’t wrestled in years hitting the MMA cage, not likely. The ability for the teachers to raise the money on their own to save Marty’s job is a bit far fetched. And the number at $40,000 seems a bit out of whack…but let’s throw all that out the window…because this is a fun and funny movie.

Kevin James is able to elicit laughs from the audience in his quest to be, not the next MMA superstar, but the guy who doesn’t mind getting beat as long as he gets paid. James works well with his love interest Bella (Salma Hayek) as he is constantly turned down. Hayek uses every excuse possible until she finds James has more to his character than meets the eye. And we laugh.

The class of folks going for their citizenship including Bas Rutten is playful and funny. It allows us to see the world from different glasses. The film is tame and family friendly, proving that you don’t need a bunch of language (even in a film with the MMA) to make the audience laugh.

And of course, it features Henry Winkler, who I will always have a soft spot for in my heart. It is a delight to see him working and really batting it around with someone like Kevin James like two sparring partners of comedy.

So don’t sweat the little stuff… submit yourself to Here Comes the Boom. You’ll have a good time and smile without any guilt whatsoever.

B-

Here Comes The Boom

Columbia Pictures

Director: Frank Coraci

Stars: Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler, Bas Rutten

Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes