Stars:
Danny McBride,
Ben Best,
Mary-Jane Bostic
Director:
Jody Hill
Summary: The literal translation of 'Tae Kwan Do', THE FOOT FIST WAY is a hilarious look at a suburban North Carolina strip mall martial arts school run by a bullying egotist (Danny McBride). Shot on the cheap--in just 19 days--the film uses its shortcomings to its advantage, keeping the action low, the kicks flying, the wood splintering, and getting all the minutiae of after-school karate class just right. Co-screenwriter/star McBride brings realistic gym coach qualities galore to his character, Mr. Simmons; the deadpan documentary tone is spot-on and there's a sense these students are actually learning this art as the movie goes on. McBride's writing partners play other Tae Kwan Do professionals: Ben Best is fun as the debauched action movie star rival, Chuck the Trucki; co-writer/director Jody Hill shows up in a hilarious bit as Simmons's mystical fifth-level black belt compadre. Mary-Jane Bostic is frighteningly vivid as the spandex-clad, habitually unfaithful Mrs. Simmons. Stylistically, this comedy has a lot in common with deadpan fly-on-the-wall mockumentaries like THE OFFICE and BORAT. Thematically, there are in-depth looks into issues of male maturity and bonding, so beloved of the Will Ferrell genre (Ferrell's company snatched it up after it rocked the house at Sundance). Be warned: though the movie is full of little kids, it has more than it's share of disrespectful language and drugs/sex/violence-filled situations. The very cool prog rock score is by Pyramid.