www.bbc.co.uk/5... Fridays at 2pm on BBC 5 live. Mark Kermode reviews new comedy Here Comes the Boom. Kevin James stars as a high school teacher who turns to martial arts fighting to raise money for his students.
Dr Mark, Kevin James is/was a big TV star in the US because he was the lead in an execrable sitcom The King of Queens - in fact, Sandler, Appatow, Schneider et al were all TV stars, wrote for sitcoms, or were regulars on SNL. So if you wanna know what dreck will be stinking-up the local multiplex next summer, check out this years Nielson TV ratings; todays sitcom star is tomorrow's oven read-turkey.
I completely forgot this film existed. It was only when he was describing the plot that I realised I had watched it and then completely forgotten it's existence
While I agree that the movie lacks funny moments (although some of my friends that watched with me laughed at some scenes), I still give it credit for having more believable fight scenes than most action movies. Kevin James actually trained in MMA and he actually did the stunts himself.
Kevin James is a big star in the US because he was in the top-rated TV show The King of Queens - and TV is where Sandler et all originated their careers! If you wanna know what dreck will be filling up our movie screens next summer, check-out the sitcoms ratings on Nielson.
I love Duggie in King of Queens. So long ago and so so far from the films he has done since then. The best character was Jerry Stiller his father in law and Spencer his best mate.
He can say what he wants about this but I did not hate it and it did not downright suck. No it was not on par with Rocky or even a decent fighting movie but their are way worse ways to spend time watching a movie. James is a likable guy so you kind of look the other way a lot of the time and Whinkler is very likable so you want him to keep his job. And for a change it's good to see someone who is not Sandler looking good in a Sandler movie (of course the fact Sandler is not in it is probably the main reason James looks good in this).
Shouldn't some actors/actresses get extra acting points from the good doctor just because they managed not to puke in a scene with some absolute tools (who somehow seem to keep cropping up in films their mates produce etc..) ?
He became popular in the United States because he starred in the television show "The King of Queens." It was a silly little comedy in which he actually charming. Generally, though, his film career has, indeed, been rubbish.
I've lost count of the amount of comedies that Mark is indifferent to, which I have subsequently enjoyed, and there's a certain irony in him ranting about the unbelievable nature of the plot - when he ranks The Exorcist as the best movie of all time. I guess if Kevin James got possessed and started vomiting green sludge, then it might have got a better review. This film isn't going to win any Oscars, but Its void of sex and bad language and I watched it with my teenage nephews and they really liked it. Job done.
I personally like Kevin James. I love The King of Queens. He had some real good material to work with here. I've not seen any of his movies so I can't judge.
It was funny more than a few times, Mark. While I agree with your intellectual deconstruction of this movie, I enjoyed watching nonetheless. Maybe being too smart can be a hindrance to being able to enjoy more common fare. Like the fancy food critic who can't admit that Kraft Dinner can be good when you're in the mood for it.
