Low-Brow Comedy Nets Few Laughs

Rating: 4/10 (3 September 2007)

If you're a low-brow comedy fan, you'll probably love BALLS OF FURY. On par with films such as SCARY MOVIE and TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, Balls of Fury hits the bottom end of the funny bone, but it does hit it. Just not often enough. Adding an impossible love story added to the low ranking here, too (even the poster image is aimed for low rung laughs, "Oh look! It's a penis and testicles!") I'm not trying to be some snob who doesn't enjoy a good laugh. It's just that the film as a whole needs to be funny. But Balls of Fury has too many valleys where the laughs vanished. In its defense, however, I will say that there were a few peaks (most notably when Randy Daytona tries to escape his Japanese style imprisonment and attempts to jump through a shoji screen but quickly discovers metal bars on the other side. Ouch!) I will also give director Ben Garant (RENO 911!: Miami) credit for making a comedy out of something as inane as a ping pong evil underworld. Making fun of the serious films that have come before (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS rapidly comes to mind where a secret world exists for hotrod enthusiasts), Balls of Fury daringly strikes out and nets a few points for originality.
Surprisingly, the character who achieved the most laughs from me was not Dan Fogler (the main protagonist) but comedian George Lopez. His Al Pacino SCARFACE impersonation was the funniest moment in the film, especially considering it took place during the pivotal action sequence.
Christopher Walken as Feng the main villain was okay but very forced. His feminine dress was meant solely for shock laughs and nothing more.
But the biggest fault was the rapid  and impossible  relationship between the chubby, poorly groomed Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler) and the athletic and exceptionally beautiful Maggie Wong (Maggie Q). This happened in rapid, slipshod fashion with no explanation as to why Maggie would fall for such a despicable lout.
For those who don't mind plot holes the size of a semi-truck, they probably won't mind this. But, for me at least, I need things to fit together, even if a bit roughly.
Meant more for young teens than anyone of adult intellect, your enjoyment of Balls of Fury will depend on how you felt about recent low-brow comedy film releases.