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Capone questions McBride's tutelage in THE FOOT FIST WAY!
Hey all. Capone in Chicago here.
I don't know exactly what to say about this film that seems have taken every writer on AICN by storm. It certainly made me laugh hard more than a couple times. Its lead, Danny McBride, is without a doubt a comedy star in the making. If for no other reason, the film exists as the ultimate showreel for his talents. But I don't really think I can get on board The Foot Fist Way love train just yet. I realize this puts me in the position of being scarily out of synch not only with my coworkers but also with some of my favorite comic actors of the day who all seem to have taken this little film under their collective wing and declared it some kind of minor masterpiece. Will Ferrrell and his partner Adam McKay even went so far as to place their names on the movie to secure it a nationwide release. The film has the making of one of the great modern midnight movies. I can clearly see a group of drunk college kids heading to their local movie house to watch the latest show possible of this film about a pudgy martial arts instructor Fred Simmons (McBride), his habitually unfaithful wife (Mary Jane Bostic) and his school full of stone-faced students of all ages.
Simmons is the ultimate douche bag, content to rest on the laurels of a years-old Tae Kwon Do championship title, and thinking he is God's gift to martial arts, women and his students. But he's also a fairly likable because no matter how much confidence he exudes in front of others, he's still not above standing before the mirror and calling himself every name in the book in some kind of a verbal self-flagellation ritual that seems to result in a beefing up of self worth. Plus his wife shits on him, and he stupidly always takes her back. Fred also gets the chance to meet his Hollywood action hero Chuck "The Truck" Wallace (Ben Best, one of the film's writers along with McBride and director Jody Hill, who also costars in the film), and is sadly disappointed in meeting his idol. THE FOOT FIST WAY's grainy look and excessive use of slow motion during some of the practice sessions at the school give the film a '70s amateur feel that is really fun, but the film itself is filled with large gaps of unfunny bits, aimless riffing and flat acting, which, I'll admit, is not always a bad thing and sometimes adds to the humor of the work.
Ultimately, however, my reaction when the film ended was, "Is that it?" It was hard to believe that this was the film I'd been hearing about for months (in some cases years) from others. I realize this sounds like something of a condemnation of the movie, which it isn't. THE FOOT FIST WAY had me giggling to myself quite a few times, and the general uncomfortable tone of the film (similar to the tone in something like "The Office") is one that I can't get enough of. As I said, McBride absolutely passes the audition with flying colors, and I can't wait to see if he maintains this level of quality humor in PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and TROPIC THUNDER later this summer. The film is actually very good; it didn't shake my shingles the way it seems to have with others. The big laughs are powerful stuff, but the rest of it is decidedly average. Not only are there better movies in theaters right now, but there are better comedies worth your $10-plus.
Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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Sorry, fanboys. The hype is bullshit. This movie is poorly-made, terribly acted and a complete waste of time. AICN should really be more selective as to which indie movie's dick it sucks.
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just because a movie has 5 funny scenes, it doesnt make it a good movie. The acting was horrible and at times I thought parts of the movie were like trying to be a drama? Sounds stupid but thats how I felt. But Mcbride is still the man. I just dont really get how Ferrell and Company said this is the funniest movie they have ever seen. I kind of thought Duplex with Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore was funnier
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I went to the AICN free screening in Chicago and if I'd bought into the hype, I'd have been disapointed. (affecting Irish accent..)But I didn't, so I wasn't!
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If so, very cool-
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This movie is funnier than most of the shit out there. Saw the premiere at Sundance in '05 and laughed my ass off. Thought it dragged a bit at the end, and the 'awkward silence' type humor is a bit old-hat given the popularity of The Office. But still- very funny shit. Thought the trailer was a pretty accurate representation of the film, so if you liked that I'd recommend it-
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Have some like terrible secert on Ferrel and gang? Like he caught Ferrel and Stiller banging and got it on tape? Because I've never seen comedies pimp someone so much before. Fucking Ferrel brought this guy to present on the MTV awards? The one award show that relies souly on what is already popular. MTV execs were probably like, "Ummmmm thats not Vince Vaughn" when Mcbride came out. Shit not even Jack Black lets Kyle Gass step out of his shawdow.
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Danny McBride is pretty much the only reason this works at all (although Jody Hill was spot-on, come you've met someone like that haven't you?). There were quite a few dead spots but every now and again there were some hysterical one-liners. "You are making this very awkard."
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since they spend their lives trying to figure out what's funny, their idea of what's funny is totally off from mainstream audiences. never trust them for comedy reviews.
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is about 50 times better than Zohan. Anyone with any taste or a sense of humor should be able to recognize this.
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"AICN should really be more selective as to which indie movie's dick it sucks."
Dude, is this really the movie you want to apply that quote to? Did you happen to stumble upon the sack of shit called The Signal. AICN is quoted on the back of the DVD case. Now that's fucking embarassing. Pimping Hatchet like the next Nightmare on Elm St. is embarassing. I could go on... and on and on. I thoroughly enjoyed Foot Fist. Sure it had its flat moments and editing problems but McBride puts the movie on his tae-kwon-do trained shoulders and carries it. it's got laughs and heart. not much more you can ask from a low-budget comedy with no stars, although McBride will certainly be a household (as in frathouse or dorm room) name after this summer. Meditate on that! Rape. -
and enjoyed the funny/creepiness of it. The best characters where the fat kid and the 5th degree guy. And the band.
Not sure why Farrell raved so much, but then he is Will Farrell, and pretty much just sucks, so won't pay him any attention. -
really terrible. unfunny
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McBride is a goddamn genius in Hot Rod.
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i saw FFW as a very funny drama. if you go in expecting laughs nonstop, then yeah, you're going to be disappointed. but mcbride is an amazing actor, both comedically and dramatically.
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