Kenny Powers Meets Napoleon Dynamite
DVD Review: The Foot Fist Way
Original Release Date: September 26, 2008
FS Verdict: Queue it up — with mild caution.
“I’m so hungry I could eat a grown man’s ass right now!” – Fred Simmons
If a nonchalant quote like that makes you laugh, then read on and add this to your Netflix Queue. If not, watch this film with caution. Fans of Eastbound & Down on HBO will be in for a treat as Danny McBride essentially started crafting the Kenny Powers character in this film. Director Jody Hill (Eastbound & Down, Observe & Report) keeps things rude and crude in this hilarious comedy about Tae Kwon Do instructor Fred Simmons.
Danny McBride plays Simmons, a loudmouthed bully who operates a Tae Kwon Do (Korean for “foot fist way”) dojo out of a strip mall. Fred idolizes Chuck “the Truck” Wallace (Ben Best), a Steven Seagal wanna-be who has an eye on Simmons’ wife.
The plot is thin and the budget is low, which only adds to the humor. The plot simply gets in the way of letting Danny McBride seemingly improvise through many scenes. The dead panned jokes are reminiscent of Napoleon Dynamite…on steroids. Much like Kenny Powers, the character of Fred Simmons will make you cringe while sticking with his every word. His no-nonsense attitude in the most dire situations elevates the comedy while showing the sweet spot within the character.
Shot in 19 days on a tight budget, The Foot Fist Way is shot in pseudo-documentary style, which actually feels like the correct choice for these actors. While McBride is the star (and now rising comic actor), it is obvious that most of the “actors” are fairly new.
If you like Danny McBride, you will love this movie.
*Note: Trailer is Red Band (a few curse words here and there)
- Corey @ FS
