The Foot Fist Way (2006) User Reviews (42)

Actually a very real, human-like movie

[tcs-victory · 7/10 · 22 October 2008]

I like The foot fist way very much. The reason for this is simple; it's very realistic and human-like. Normally all movies are cool slick Hollywood movies. Where everybody is perfect, and the good guy always gets the beautiful girl in the end and every fight scene lasts 20 minutes,....well not in my life.

The main character of The Foot Fist Way is actually very easy to recognize in the first place. Many people ARE like him, and many people probably can identify with the main character. I know I can. Hell, maybe people say I'm a loser for admitting this, but I know my life more resembles 'the foot fist way' than it does 'Casino Royale' or 'Die Hard'.

I practice karate, and although this movie is about Tea Kwon Do (these sports are very similar), I can tell you that the exaggerations are real. And there are people out there that are made off no more than hot air.

Anyway, the 'crappy' filming makes this movie almost a documentary. And the fact that the actors are so simple, and not famous is very refreshing. I like real life, and I like movies that represent real-life. The Hollywood fairy tales are awful, in my opinion. The pace of the movie is good, and I thought is was short....I was really entertained. And real martial arts isn't as spectacular as we get to see in Hollywood movies, its as crappy as presented in this film. (in the sense of 'normal' people that practice martial arts).

In my opinion the producers were successful in creating a funny movie about things in life we all can relate to.

Funny, low-budget film about a Taekwondo's instructors life

[simonl_74 · 7/10 · 23 May 2006]

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.

A funny, although somewhat disappointing, film

[Jim-D · 6/10 · 22 May 2008]

I am always amazed at how hard it is to make a decent low budget comedy. One would think that comedies and dramas would be the easiest genres to film on a limited budget, yet time and time again, they fail to deliver.

After hearing such amazing buzz for The Foot Fist Way, I was very excited to see if this "little comedy that could" would actually deliver. The result, however, was a very mixed bag.

The acting is very good for a film of this caliber, except for the woman who plays the adulterous wife. During several scenes at the beginning of the film, she is shocking bad, and it takes away from the believability of the scenes.

The comedy, when it hits, is very funny... but it is quite obvious why Will Ferell has put so much praise on this film. It is essentially a very vulgar no-budget version of one of his films. The Tae Kwon Do instructor is essentially playing Will Ferell, playing this character. At times, he's very funny - but its nothing groundbreaking.

The film really disappoints in its pacing. Every outcome is extremely obvious, and many scenes go on for way too long. One scene in particular, in which the instructor tries to come on to a female student, really outlasts its welcome and goes from mildly amusing to aggravating by its end. The final scene, meant to feel somewhat victorious, comes off flat and humorless.

The Foot Fist Way does deliver some very good belly laughs from time to time, but sadly comes out like most low-budget comedies. Its sad to say, but had this project been given a Hollywood budget, a script polish, and some stars, it would have been much more fun.

Skip it in theaters. Give it a rental if you're intrigued.

Has its moments but never delivers on its potential and comes out being only average

[bob the moo · 18 November 2008]

I came to this movie with talk of it being hilarious, brilliant and having apparently been the toast of Sundance. I didn't totally believe all the hype, mainly because that's always what the majority of such talk is, but I did have hopes that the film would be good at what it tries to do. Taking its lead from the painfully flawed David Brent in The Office, The Foot Fist Way focuses on taekwondo teacher Fred Simmons as he leads his class to be (perhaps) as good as him, fails to control his cheating wife and idolises taekwondo champion and film star Chuck "the truck" Wallace. In terms of narrative flow there isn't really much that justifies discussion because, rightly, the story is only a frame within which to put the character study of an arrogant man who has zero self-awareness. In this there is a lot of potential and accordingly the best parts of the film are not specific events or plot points but just little moments that remind the viewer what a self-important and embarrassingly pompous man we are watching.

It is not something you'll never have seen before of course and the many other variations will show you how painfully funny (and painfully painful) that this sort of thing can be, whether it is Spinal Tap or David Brent. Problem is with the Foot Fist Way is that it feels like a really good idea that has not been fully carried out. So there are moments which are both painful and funny but then there are also lots of scenes that are just surprisingly straightforward, failing to either be funny or to be insightful in regards the character of Fred. It is a shame but it does mean that the film is distinctly average. Even at a short running time of 83 minutes, the film still struggles and surprised me by feeling much longer – it should have sprinted and been over before you knew what was happening.

No fault to McBride though, he feels natural and is convincing in his character. As one of those involved in the writing he does share some responsibility though because the script just doesn't give him enough to work with often enough. He is the whole film though and when he has the material then it is at its best. Bostic is a good "white-trash" cliché but is surprisingly wooden for the majority. Best's turn is funny and produces some narrative drive but also has the detrimental effect of jostling for time with the comedy character study which I thought the film should have stuck with. The style of delivery could have been different and, although some say it is overused, I think the "making a documentary" approach would have worked in the favour of the material as we have seen countless other times.

I wanted to really like this film because you can see the potential but sadly it is never fully realised. This doesn't make for a terrible film though and it does still have its moments where things work but mostly I felt like it was a big case of "close but no cigar" in regards the script and the delivery. It is OK and perhaps worth a look on television but there are much better versions of the same idea out there, many of which leave this film looking distinctively average.

Pretty good.

[HorrorEnjoyer · 7/10 · 19 February 2010]

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.

Two Scenes Carry the Movie

[view_and_review · 6/10 · 12 November 2021]

"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.

Tae Kwon Don't!

[george.schmidt · 6/10 · 2 June 2008]

THE FOOT FIST WAY (2008) ** Danny McBride, Mary Jane Bostic, Ben Best, Juan-Carlos Guzman, Carlos Lopez, Collette Wolfe, Ken Aguilar. One-note comedy about a delusional strip-mall tae kwon do 'master' instructor (tool Mc Bride who grates more than gains guffaws) whose idiotic ways get the best of him when his sluttish wife (Bostic) cheats on him, sending him into a whirlwind as he is attempting to lure his idol, movie martial arts star Chuck "the Truck" Wallace (Best) for a public appearance at his school. Newcomer Jody Hill (who has an admittedly funny co-starring role as an intense comrade-in-arms of McBride's, and also co-scripted with his star and Best) attempts for a "Napoleon Dynamite" meets "The Office" mockumentary feel for awkward, cringe-inducing comedy and has more misses than hits. Executive produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, two other delusional comic geniuses who probably should've let the former do the heavy lifting.

Not as funny as it could be, but there's potential here

[Movie_Muse_Reviews · 5/10 · 10 July 2009]

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.

A great comedy for people who enjoy subtle humor.

[Lohkabre · 10/10 · 22 September 2009]

This is hands down one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Don't expect big stars, don't expect people getting hit in the nuts, and don't expect huge testicles on a bulldog. Instead think of an intelligent script, a couple of unknowns who do a fantastic job, and very intelligent delivery. I can't even describe what makes this so funny. It's just the way the whole thing is handled. You have to watch it to believe it.

Unlike what the previous commenter said.... the main actor is NOTHING like a Will Ferrell portrayal. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Will Ferrell likes this movie so much because it is the type of humor he likes, and I've seen some of his stuff when he's not scripted into a quick buck Hollywood shitfest. It's funny. Like this is.

And the little kid Julio.... freakin' AWESOME. Just give it a try, guys.

Interesting (and humorous) start to McBride's career!

[the amorphousmachine · 6/10 · 25 July 2010]

Danny McBride, Ben Best and Jody Hill wrote a "cult-ish" low-budget film called 'The Foot Fist Way'; about an obnoxious (but funny) Tae Kwon Do instructor named Fred Simmons, who has a marital crisis that affects his training of students. Endorsed by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay as one of the funniest recent comedies to come out, and they give this independent flick an audience, and I curiously checked it out as it was just released on DVD in Australia.

Yes, it's funny! Not brilliant by any means! Danny McBride's acting style has continued to be apparent in other projects, and he has since been featured in films like 'Fanboys', 'Pineapple Express', 'Land of the Lost', 'Tropic Thunder' and he even had a serious bit in 'Up in the Air'. It all started in 'The Foot Fist Way' for him, and he was easily the king of this movie. Jody Hill, who went on to direct 'Observe and Report', also plays a somewhat interesting but limited character in Mike McAlister. Ben Best plays Chuck "the Truck" Wallace, and has quite a few funny scenes too. Some of the kids were great as well, and there is some impressively edited and directed action sequences and martial arts to boot. The fight scene between McBride and Best was hilarious and impressive at the same time- I would have never have thought McBride had some mad skills.

If you are into low-budget comedies, or interested to see how Danny McBride got his career going, then this film is definitely worth checking out. Not brilliant but quite good! *** out of *****!

Pretty dang bad

[vipher20 · 2/10 · 26 February 2009]

I hate that I didn't like this movie. If I sit down and am prepared to be open and laugh at a movie, I can usually find the humor in it, but I am just dumbfounded on how this movie could reach anywhere above a 4 rating on IMDb....much less the 6.3 rating it has at the time of this posting. I think I recall laughing maybe three times the whole movie....of which were somewhat forced. To be honest, I think I've actually lost some respect for Will Ferrell and Adam Mckay just for recommending this movie so highly. This flick actually had some potential: The main guy being a loser that takes his goofy job waaay to seriously, his placement of some obviously "Pedro"-like kid as his top student, the dumb blonde wife, the overly-cocky bad guy........but unfortunately, it just doesn't deliver on any of the ideas. I seriously think (not just exaggerating) that Ferrell and Mckay were on something the first time they watched this, and possibly every time since. If you're just some mindless frat-boy that thinks foul language is funny, well then I guess you might think this is funny. But there's no joke behind a lot of it, just randomly placed f-bombs. At least with most of Mckay's stuff, there's still a joke behind the language.

People have mentioned the acting. Well let me reinforce that. The acting is BAD. The wife is the worst of all, and I can't believe they couldn't find ANY other hot girl to play the part. Look on IMDb at her acting credits......there's a reason she's only been in one other role. You could probably find better acting in most high school one act plays. Danny McBride was fine, and really is pretty decent when under a good director and writers. But it's almost like they just made it up as they went along. I guess I understand comparing it to Napolean Dynamite just for the fact that the characters are intentionally lame, but other than that, it's more or less a slap in the face to Jon Heder to say this movie can amount to ND in anyway (and "No"--I'm not any kind of hardcore Napolean Dynamite fan). It actually took me four sittings to finish this movie (sometimes cause I didn't have the time to finish it or cause I just couldn't make it through it any longer). I only gave it two stars cause by the time I had to turn it off the third time to go to work, I actually sorta wanted to know how it ended and sit down the fourth time to finish it....so I guess the end of the story had somewhat of a redeeming factor. And please understand, I get the whole dry-humor, lame characters, low-budget thing. I watched the Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, and while it definitely wasn't that great.....I still got the humor more than I did this one and actually laughed once in a while at it.

Anywhoo.........you get the point. It's BAD.

it's awesome

[grendel-vetraskald · 9/10 · 29 December 2008]

it's like napoleon dynamite meets spinal tap for the martial arts (specifically Tae Kwon Do)

Our antihero is in a world all his own, a Tae Kwon Do instructor that drives like a bad-ass jerk, and he lives like he drives - stepping on those around him, oblivious to his effect on others. Well, not to give anything away - spoiler alert! - everything comes crashing down around him and it looks like all is lost.

I think the acting was fine, it was a bit over the top and intentionally approached to feature somewhat 'natural reactions' to an over the top character. The wife, the hero, the antihero - these roles were exaggerated and I believe this is where the other comment about horrible acting came from. I still enjoyed the movie and was not put off or removed from the fantasy of the film. Yeah the wife wasn't the best actress but it didn't detract from her role and once you're into the movie these things are minor. I also thought Napoleon Dynamite was stupid until I watched it for a bit and the whole approach sunk in.

It's about his redemption and growth through a trial, and his realization of what he does and is doing to others, and his turn around from the jerk to the teacher, trusted and confident. I thought it was a really funny film, a bit inspiring, and just all around good times. Maybe not everyone's type of humor but I really dug it. Give it a shot.

How awful to make a bad indie comedy. So bad they got picked up by HBO for another project.

[reechard · 6/10 · 11 January 2015]

Offensive. Bad. So terrible they landed 4 seasons of Eastbound and Down on HBO.

Too much profanity. Girlfriend not hot enough. Not enough acting.

It's not like its their first project (oh, wait, was it?). Why give these Hollywood types (oh wait, are they?) the time of day or more money to make another (oh wait...)

It's not like the lead, McBride, is one of 2 or 3 writers on this show and the other (oh wait...)

I've read some positive comments about how people have run into this sort of martial arts instructor in real life. So, their research on the character isn't terrible.

All the very bad reviews here show why most can't see past the flaws, to what a brand-new team doing something very original is capable of.

Thankfully bad reviews are a dime a dozen and sometimes aren't enough to kill other projects.

Its 2 thousand fifteen, people. A bad indie comedy isn't a tragedy, and a first project can be treated with a bit more kindness.

Not a Very Remarkable Film

[gavin6942 · 5/10 · 29 August 2009]

A karate (okay, tae kwon do) instructor (Danny McBride) loses it when his wife is found to be unfaithful ... and then he does something. You know, like flip out. On his students.

This film came to me sadly over-recommended. I mean, not really highly recommended, but even moderately was just too much. There was some "I heard it was good", and it was to go along with "Pineapple Express", which I enjoyed. But this just wasn't really that funny. At all. Sure, it had a few good moments. A kid gets beat up, there's a poor Chuck Norris knock-off. But this just isn't all that good. That's all I even really want to type. Disposable film.

Do yourself a favor and watch films not starring Danny McBride. He's a fine cameo or bit player but not a lead.

Cult classic written all over it

[Jos B · 2 March 2009]

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.

Acting left a lot to be desired in places

[riteshshergill · 6/10 · 14 September 2008]

They could have done so much with this movie but somewhere along the way it became just another movie about how a loser comes to terms with his weaknesses and ends up a winner. The movie definitely ends on that "Feel Good" note, that said, the wife's role could've done with some character development, her acting wasn't inspiring to say the least.

It definitely was funny in parts, especially the scene where Danny pits an old lady against the class bully.

The story was quite predictable as is the case with such movies. I would say, avoid seeing this movie at a theater and maybe wait for the DVD to come out.

The foot in mouth way...

[poe426 · 6/10 · 4 January 2009]

Anyone who has stepped into a dojo anywhere in the United States in the past 40 years will instantly recognize the Danny McBride character in THE FOOT FIST WAY. When the "kung fu craze" started in the early 1970s (thanks to the importing of hundreds of Chinese martial arts movies- which, unlike the samurai movies that preceded them, gave us heroes who relied on their own physical abilities to resolve disputes), the local dojos where I lived upped enrollment (and monthly fees) and guaranteed students "a black belt in six months!" And the instructors delivered: six months after joining, locals were showing off their new black belts. (The only black belt I've ever met in my life who would've given me pause in a street fight was Joe Lewis, the first full-contact heavyweight karate champion of the world.) Like it or not, THE FOOT FIST WAY happens to be a very accurate look at American martial arts (it's certainly superior to David Mamet's moronic mixed martial arts movie, RED BELT) and, for that reason if no other, rates a look.

Ridiculous character funny but repetitive

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 30 September 2013]

Fred Simmons (Danny McBride) is a delusional over-confident Tae Kwon Do instructor. His wife Suzie (Mary Jane Bostic) just started a new job. He's devastated when she tells him that she gave her boss a hand job during a drunken party. He goes to a martial arts expo to meet his idol B-movie action star Chuck "the Truck" Wallace (Ben Best) but he turns out to be a drunk.

This is a one-note performance from Danny McBride. He's a ridiculous man who doesn't know how ridiculous he is. It's funny at times but just get repetitive. He's also not an adorable character. It's great that Danny has created this outrageous character. It's a fun dark comedy. He just needs to expand the role of Denise (Collette Wolfe) who can call him on his BS. Even this character needs a straight man.

83 minute Torture

[jforjayaprashanth · 1/10 · 23 October 2012]

--> I normally don't do reviews but believe me people this movie is a torture.

READ NEXT SENTENCE --> I watched this movie just seeing its genre.

READ NEXT SENTENCE --> The whole movie was made like a Awful documentary.

READ NEXT SENTENCE --> There is nothing funny in the whole movie.

READ NEXT SENTENCE

--> Its true that it shows the reality.

READ NEXT SENTENCE --> But,who wants to watch a comedy that 'll give u a f...... Head ache?

Future comedy classic

[kevin-540 · 9/10 · 27 August 2007]

Jody Hill has shown himself to be a master of letting his actors play and simply be. He sells a simple sports story in a totally unique, wonderful and hilarious way... The humor completely taps into the modern comedy style of allowing large characters to be portrayed subtly and with multiple dimensions. This new brand of comedy is rare in American cinema, although the Europeans (like Ricky Gervais) have been perfecting it for years... Danny Mc. Bride, in a role destined for cult legend status, will soon be a comedy star with his unassuming way of selling the laughs naturally without cramming it down the audience's throat. Can't wait to see what this crew pulls together next, they are truly the type of guys who will be looked at and exalted in the years to come.

Pretty funny if you've taken martial arts before!

[metallipowerman5000 · 7/10 · 12 February 2009]

This movie will be funny if...

1.) You like Will Ferrell style of comedy 2.) You've taken martial arts for more than 1 year or so.

I only watched the first half so far, but this movie is GREAT. The lead actor is HILARIOUS, his cocky ignorant attitude is OFF THE WALL FUNNY.....

I just love movies like this.......it's going to be like Napolean Dynamite, you either Love it or Hate it, Period....

If you have a sarcastic style of comedy, or like other films by Adam McKay or Will Ferrell, you'll probably love this movie.

It's just funny watching what the martial arts instructor will do next.

----

BTW: I cant believe there are people dumb enough to like Danny R. McBride in stupid movies like PineApple Express, but don't like him in THIS movie! Are you insane! Danny is A THOUSAND times funnier in this Foot Fist Way movie!

I HATED Pineapple Express...seth rogen or whatever is NOT funny....the ending was great though.

Danny is the new Will Ferrell though, no doubt.

more like the foot in mouth way. Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful

[jgibbzy · 1/10 · 2 April 2009]

I must have missed something because unlike everyone else i thought this was the worst comedy i've seen in years. Danny Mc Bride maybe OK as a supporting character but a leading man he ain't. His brand of comedy always seems forced, he puts himself in awkward situations and then just spouts random rubbish for 30 to 60 secs and that's it. Every character he plays is rude and obnoxious with no redeeming features, That can also be said about everyone else in this film apart from the two kids. Also if your gonna do a film about martial arts it helps if the lead actor can actually do it. Im not talking about the breaking of the blocks, I'm talking about the one real fight scene where everything is filmed in close so as to compensate the actors lack of ability. If i could id give it a 0/10 i would, if i could be bothered i would sort out the spelling and grammar of this comment but i've wasted enough of my time on this rubbish. I can't believe watching this has made me so angry, probably because I bought this thinking it was gonna be good. So who really wins me moaning after the fact or the filmmakers who've just pocketed another 6 quid and will continue to make more dross like this thanks to me.

wanna laugh a lot

[johnnysohigh · 9/10 · 1 October 2008]

Well it started for me with pineapple express the tropic thunder so i checked on Danny McBride and found this .Its great the humor is non stop .i loved it .The only thing i hope is he continues to do sweet as$ roles and doesn't turn in to Ferrel where all his movies are the same . Danny McBride should win something. SEE THIS MOVIE .There is really no one even in this move besides him. A few of the actors are fairly good.Chuck the truck is descent, and his 2 little buddies are good too. His wife is horrible the hole movie witch does hurt it . McBride has a movie coming out with will Ferrel called land of the lost he is is son.Its based off the 70s show and should be really good. Well thats it hope you see Foot first way its 9/10 and really good. SEE THIS MOVIE

The beginning of Danny McBride's hilarious film career.

[awdturbo98 · 7/10 · 28 January 2023]

"The Foot Fist Way" is a 2006 independent comedy film directed by Jody Hill and starring Danny McBride, Ben Best, and Mary Jane Bostic. The film follows the story of Tae Kwon Do instructor, Fred Simmons (Danny McBride), who runs a small martial arts studio in a strip mall in a small town in North Carolina. Simmons is a self-absorbed, delusional man who believes he is a martial arts master and idolizes a famous martial artist, Chuck "The Truck" Wallace (played by real-life martial artist, J. K. Simmons).

The film opens with Simmons teaching a class of mostly unenthusiastic students, including his wife Susan (Mary Jane Bostic), who is unhappy with their marriage and openly flirts with another student, Mike McAllister (Ben Best). As the film progresses, we see Simmons struggle to maintain control over his studio, his marriage, and his own self-perception as a martial arts master.

Throughout the film, Simmons is seen trying to improve his image by attending a martial arts convention where he meets his idol Chuck "The Truck" Wallace, but finds him to be a washed-up, drunken has-been. This realization causes Simmons to have a meltdown and he begins to lose control of his life. He starts to have an affair with one of his students, and his wife leaves him. Eventually, Simmons's life falls apart and he loses his studio, his wife, and his students.

The film is a dark comedy that satirizes the martial arts industry and the people who participate in it. The film is well-written, with great performances from the lead actors, particularly Danny McBride, who is hilarious as the deluded, self-absorbed Simmons. The film was well-received by critics and has a cult following.

The Foot Mouth In.

[dunmore_ego · 5/10 · 23 August 2009]

FOOT FIST WAY is the literal English translation of Tae Kwon Do. And the ancient Tibetan translation is Not Quite Comedy.

Produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, Danny McBride's THE FOOT FIST WAY is an uneven bid at indie cult, as it explores themes of narcissism and self-esteem, filled with non-sequitur characters, bad actors, and jokes that Will Ferrell would find funny.

McBride is Fred Simmons, a mediocre yet egomaniacal karate instructor, who owns and runs his own dojo, giving parking lot demonstrations to solicit customers. In his words, he is "The King of Demo." Fred's life falls apart when he discovers his wife, Suzie (Mary Jane Bostick, whose acting talent stems solely from her mungus bazoongas) has been having an affair with her boss. When he further discovers his idol, karate master Chuck "The Truck" Wallace (Ben Best) is a callous asshole, his worldview comes crashing down. It doesn't help when Fred busts his wife taking a ride on The Truck...

Filmed entirely with a Steadicam, FOOT FIST WAY is a painfully-independent comedy; to his credit, McBride pulls off a good Ricky Gervais Lite, but the production is lacklustre, although I wouldn't blame the filmmakers' sincerity, rather, budget.

We can never discern whether Fred Simmons is actually a craftsman or not, as he has won awards - yet his demonstrations don't exactly inspire awe the way watching even one second of Bruce Lee does.

This movie is also painful to tutors of all stripes. Allow me to explain, through my catharsis: Parents may send their kids to piano lessons, but the irony is, they don't necessarily want their kid to END UP a piano teacher. They want much more for their little Bubba. They trust the teacher enough to have the teacher's ideas implanted in Bubba's head for life, and they respect the teacher enough to allow little Bubba behind closed doors with them - but seriously, "those who can't do, teach," right?

Fred Simmons character arcs in all the right places and finds he must give up his illusions and actually "do" to Truck Wallace; the servant must become the master, the teacher must become the pwner... and other spiritual guff like that.

--Review by Poffy The Cucumber (for Poffy's Movie Mania).