As one segment after another unfolds, it becomes clear that The Foot Fist Way is not just a vulgar comedy, but also a shockingly sad portrait of an average loser who believes himself to be more than what he is. The intention is clear: the film sets out to uncover the absurd side of the reality behind your typical Middle American martial arts guru. Danny McBride plays Fred Simmons, a Tae Kwon Do instructor who’s a far cry from the zen master one usually see depicted in pop culture. He’s a foul-mouthed, beer-drinking white trash who misuses his martial arts prowess to make himself feel important and superior from everybody else. You can say that if a realistic version of Cobra Kai existed, he’d be the vain bastard running it. As his wife calls him, he’s “king of the dumbest f-cking kingdom.”
The movie shares something in common with Napoleon Dynamite (other than their homegrown indie look) in that it relinquishes plot in favor of glimpses into the obnoxious main character’s daily life. The only semblance of a working story is Simmons’ worship of Chuck “The Truck” Wallace (Ben Best, who also co-wrote the script), an obvious piss-take on Chuck Norris, depicting Simmons’ utter disappointment upon meeting his hero only to find out that he’s a Hollywood douchebag rock star wannabe. Predictably, the two butt heads. The rest of the time, we mostly see Simmons teaching anyone from kids to senior citizens with often disastrous results, while his marriage disintegrates at home due to his “whorish” wife. Like Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy or Ricky Bobby, Fred Simmons is good at what he does but only at what he does (which I guess explains why Will—and Anchorman director Adam McKay—loved the movie so much and decided to endorse it). Simmons really is good at Tae Kwon Do and teaches his students competently, but being socially retarded, his terrible personality works to his disadvantage. It’s a fail-safe recipe for comedy, right? Ferrell’s been milking it for years. Yet here, the angst trumps the farce.
What I didn’t expect when I went into this movie is a frank insight into dementia, but its characterization of Fred Simmons clearly is. There are moments where Simmons has to talk himself into staying sane that—though intended to be absurd and quirky—ended up being wholly ugly and depressing. McBride and director Jody Hill’s mistake was making Simmons’ problems too relatable and too genuine, thus his crude and profane tirades come across more as sad ramblings than humorous rants. It’s easier to laugh when the character is an oblivious goofball caricature. It’s something else entirely when he’s just plain oblivious.
Watching The Foot Fist Way is like watching somebody’s mental breakdown and having to convince yourself that it’s okay to laugh. You know, like when Britney Spears first shaved her head. It’s a strange concoction of bewilderment, sympathy and disdain. Much of the comedy is just Simmons and/or his Tae Kwon Do associates reacting angrily at life taking an enormous dump on them. There’s a sense of that uncomfortable comedy that Ricky Gervais is famous for seeping in, but while Gervais always makes sure you know that it’s okay to laugh at him, this film gets you to question if certain scenes are even intended to garner laughs.
It’s an interesting movie, and I do think it’s worth a look, but it fails miserably as a comedy (or being fun entertainment in any way). As a cultural glimpse into a backwater martial arts institution and the vanity that comes with such power (however small)… Well, it’s not without its allure.
"The Foot Fist Way" opens May 30, 2008 and is rated R. Comedy. Directed by Jody Hill. Written by Danny R. McBride, Ben Best, Jody Hill. Starring Danny R McBride, Ben Best, Mary Jane Bostic, Spencer Moreno.
