Here comes the ridiculous... you were expecting different?

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From left, Bas Rutten, Henry Winkler and Mark Dellagrotte make up James� cheering section. (CP)

Here Comes the Boom, with Kevin James as a tubby high school science teacher who becomes a mixed martial-arts sensation, is every bit as ridiculous as it looks.

That's not such a bad thing for the movie, whose makers embrace the fact that they're essentially doing a live-action cartoon or a variation of that Three Stooges short where Curly becomes a boxing phenom whenever he hears Pop Goes the Weasel.

James and director Frank Coraci assemble a likable gang of oddballs that make it kind of work. Everyone surrounding James' Scott Voss is so disarmingly incredulous yet perversely enthusiastic about his MMA foray that they defuse the outrageousness of this guy getting into the cage against ferocious brutes and coming out with his teeth and vital organs intact.

The real flaws in the comedy written by Allan Loeb and James are the stabs at genuine moments -- the inspirational classroom hijinks, the simple-headed critiques of public schools, the humdrum romance as James wins the heart of Salma Hayek (yeah, like that's going to happen).

There are decent gags and laughs, but in between, it's "here comes the boor" -- James acting the buffoon to little effect for much of the movie.

At the outset, James' Voss is a burned-out science educator who, so we're told, was teacher of the year a decade earlier, though we never learn why he became a schoolroom slug. He's inexplicably roused to action when the school principal (Greg Germann) announces huge cutbacks, including the music program run by nurturing teacher Marty Streb (Henry Winkler).

A decent college wrestler back in the day, Voss figures he can make some not-so-easy money as a punching bag in MMA fights, where even the losers can score good paydays. James buffed himself up a bit for the movie, so he looks more battle-ready than you'd expect. But when he starts winning some bouts and becoming a contender, the movie's credibility skyrockets into Rocky territory and beyond.

James has pleasant chemistry with Hayek as the school nurse Voss perpetually hits on, but the wooing is mostly dull. Winkler is enjoyably warm and fuzzy as the wimpy sidekick.

As Voss's trainer, former UFC champ Bas Rutten steals scene after scene with his lowbrow, bear-hugging charm, and singer Charice adds adorability as a bright and earnest student. Trying for authenticity in a terribly inauthentic story, the filmmakers bring in real martial-arts figures playing themselves, including ex-fighter Mark DellaGrotte and commentator Joe Rogan.

The actual fights are played seriously, save for a vomit gag that doesn't provide the humour to justify its grossness. James goes into the cage and gets knocked around the way you figure he would, a real plausibility gap when he keeps walking away with little more than bumps and bruises after the vicious punches and kicks he absorbs.

Yeah, it's just dopey comedy. We should accept it and move on. But then the filmmakers have to make believe that Voss could actually have a shot against a real UFC contender (pro fighter Krzysztof Soszynski).

Is it any more ridiculous than the plot of Rocky? Well, yes, a lot. But no more ridiculous than Rocky IV, maybe.

-- The Associated Press

MOVIE REVIEW

Here Comes the Boom

Starring Kevin James and Salma Hayek

Kildonan Place, Polo Park, St. Vital, Towne

PG

105 minutes

2.5 stars out of five

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 12, 2012 D7