The Foot Fist Way

This is the type of movie that gets funnier each time you watch it, just like The Big Lebowski. It takes a while to get a feel for the level of realism (a bit more serious than Napoleon Dynamite), but when you're finally tuned in to the wavelength of the makers, you can almost instantly re-watch it (which will not take up too much time because it's refreshingly short). Once you know the characters are a bit silly, but not trying to generate cheap laughs or thrills (it must have been tempting to let Mr. Simmons totally snap, or have an all out brawl at the hotel room party, or let Mrs. Simmons show some more skin), the story becomes remarkably solid.

Surprise hit comedies are generally the ones that feature a relatively under-exposed actor with great comedic talent in a central role. That is what Danny McBride as Fred Simmons is supposed to be. It's not a bad movie, but it scratches the surface of what it could be. It feels like "The Foot Fist Way" is the very long pilot of a TV series that didn't get picked up: like there was something more that needed to happen and characters that needed to be developed.

The film is a small character-driven comedy created by a trio of friends who have been nurtured by the Will Ferrell and Adam McKay screwball character movie teat. Danny McBride, the star, Jody Hill, director and supporting actor and Ben Best, supporting actor, all wrote the story of Simmons, a tae kwan do instructor in Alabama who's full of himself yet humbly insecure.

There's really no plot until halfway through the movie, giving it that episodic "this should be broken up into smaller, fleshed out parts" feel. Supporting characters jump in and out rather than contribute to a flowing narrative. The only thing that stays solid is the rocky relationship subplot between Simmons and his tall-built bimbo wife (a rather untalented Mary Jane Bostic).

Admirably, these three amigos try and create a character for McBride that is both a verbal machine gun of ridiculous phrases and someone who uses that same egotistical technique to work out his emotional problems. In other words, someone who is supposed to be hilarious but self-revealing at the same time -- a complex goofball. Their first trial run is hit or miss on the comedic end and just short on creating a meaningful character. McBride is capable, but they don't really push the concept hard enough.

A glorified TV episode might be all it is, but there's talent in this group of aspiring comedy filmmakers.

If you're looking for dumb kind of humor like in "anchorman" or "zoolander" , or any of Adam Sandlers stuff you will be disappointed - this low budget flick is completely different - kinda a gulp of fresh air I must say - it's truthful, believable and even artsy to some degree. Most of jokes are concentrated on deep sarcasm and irony and if that's your cup of tee - I think you'll love it like I did. This movie shows you that you don't need to go over the top to be funny and you don't need to follow clichés to bring up some message. Of-course, it has some pretty dumb moments by itself, but they come just at the right time and don't ruin the atmosphere at all. I'm not saying that it's a masterpiece, but I think it is at least worth checking out. I would recommend it if you have some spare time to waste.

"The Foot Fist Way" is the second Jody Hill movie I've watched. The first was "Observe and Report" with Seth Rogen which was released in 2009. I'm noticing that the Jody Hill formula is to make comedies dressed as dramas, so there will be no audio or visual cues to laugh. The actors' faces, voices, and movements won't cue you that this is a joke, simply the dialog and perhaps the absurdity of the situation. It's a unique style that isn't going to have you rolling on the floor laughing.

In TFFW Danny McBride played Fred Simmons, a Taekwondo instructor in North Carolina. He is a joke of an instructor with a super hot wife and a super hot car. Danny McBride consumes about 80% of the screen time, so the movie truly hinges upon him. His wife Suzie (Mary Jane Bostic) and his idol Chuck "The Truck" Wallace (Ben Best) have the next greatest share of screen time and it's not that much.

This movie had two very funny scenes which carried it. The rest of the movie kept a steady pace although it didn't register highly on the funny scale.

This film made me laugh a lot which is rare. It's an original (and let's face it that's rare) subject and was made in just 19 days shot in North Carolina. It's low budget and has some endearing characters (some of the kids rock) in it. It also actually shows people how they look in real life e.g. acne on their face which is quite shocking in itself as we usually only see pixel perfect complexions. The characters maybe stereotypical and shallow but who cares when the main aim is for laughs? The main character (according to my girlfriend) is reminiscent of Ricky Gervais in the Office (Brit comedy) but he always remains likable. I hope these actors and directors will make it big one day and you can impress / annoy by saying how you saw them in their early days. If you want some good laughs and an original subject matter then go see this film.