Review of Here Comes the Boom (2012) by Christopher C — 12 Mar 2013

If I could give a rating based solely on how a movie's premise aligns with my own feelings concerning its subject matter, I'd give this 5 stars. The heart of the movie is a former teacher of the year who has grown disillusioned with the modern state of education... No funding, no support for teachers, no honest ways in which to inspire kids when the bureaucrats are turning education into an energy-sucking vortex of despair. When budget cuts threaten what he sees as the only inspiring and uplifting part of his school (music, natch!) he gets angry enough to finally stand up to the principal and the school board.

This is the point at which the movie turns to complete fantasy... Not a bad thing really, after all a good fantasy makes most of us feel pretty good. But the former collegiate wrestling star decides to take his skills back to the floor and become a cage fighter, with the idea that on the pro level, even the losers get paid $10,000 per fight. Is it plausible that this guy can get as far as he does? No. Is it remotely possible that he would survive the onslaught of fists, feet and fury in his physical condition? Not even close. But, as I said, it's a nice fantasy. We can often take comfort in the idea of beating impossible odds, especially for a worthy cause. If only it would be true.

There are some missed opportunities here, chiefly the irony of a teacher making more money in one victorious fight in a cage than in an entire year of teaching. The movie could have gained some more critical attention I think if they had mined that conflict. But, like most Kevin James movies... It just ain't that deep. I was also not laughing too often; perhaps I just don't find anything about our failing educational system funny. Mostly I find it infuriating, actually.

Then again, maybe I simply lack a sense of humor.

But I will say this: It's a Happy Madison picture, and quite possibly the only one that I could ever sit through. So bravo to Adam Sandler for being on the right side of moviemaking for once (although I guarantee he had something to do with the school nurse being played by Salma Hayek... His boyish fantasies are ever present in his movies, and if there was ever a school nurse that looked like her, it was not in THIS universe...). There's a good heart at this movie's core.