A Disney clone with a lot more punch and non stop humour

Rating: 8/10 (11 February 2014)

Wow, what a nice surprise this film was. Instead of watching another boring TV rerun, we decided to pop in the Blu Ray version of Here Comes the Boom and the missus and I ended up pleasantly surprised at just how good this movie was. The film stars the trimmed down King of Queens TV Star, Kevin James, as a despondent high school Biology teacher named Scott Voss with 10 years of service behind him. I am going to assume that Kevin James spent a considerable amount of time training in a gym to get down to the weight he did and to reduce so much of his body fat in preparation for the amount of time he would spend in the Octagon during the many fight sequences that appeared in the film. A special note for parents of young children, the violence is limited to a few "biff, boom, bangs" sort of in the realm you would witness in the World Wrestling on television, so not to worry, I would allow a child to watch this film.
Supporting Kevin James is actress Salma Hayek who plays Bella Flores, the school nurse, as Scott Voss's tough to win over love interest. Scott's continued and failed pursuit of Bella makes everyone want him to win her over at some time, somehow. The "somehow" comes in to play when the mean school principal, Principal Betcher, played by Greg Germann who is probably best known for his womanizing role in the 1997 TV series Ally McBeal, announces he has to cut from the school budget the entire music program. This is why I felt Here Comes the Boom has that Disney style look and feel theme, but with a lot more "oomph" to appeal to a mature audience. The film contains a romantic theme, with some great music similar to GLEE productions dispersed throughout the film, an underdog hero, namely despondent Biology school teacher Scott Voss, who uncharacteristically steps up in defense of the music teacher who is about to lose his job. The music teacher, Marty Streb, played to perfection by Henry Winkler, adds some comic relief as the victim in the film and he agrees to support Scott Voss as his corner man in the Octagon.
Scott announces that he will attempt to raise the $48,000.00 needed to save the music program, and Marty Streb's job. Unfortunately for Scott he does not have a game plan as to how he will actually raise the needed funding to save the school's music program, and more importantly, Marty Streb's job. Scott then realizes that the lovely Bella is impressed with his willingness to TRY, so Scott figures out with the assistance of one of his night school students, a retired mixed martial experts fighter named Niko, played exceptionally well by former MMA fighter Bas Rutten, that he could possibly WIN the money through MMA prize fights just by losing a bunch of fights in the Octagon.
Again, in true Disney style, (although this is not a Disney production), the comedy that ensues is priceless. I must say I did a lot of belly laughing throughout the film. There are far too many good and truly funny scenes in this film, to point out. I gave it an 8 out of 10 rating, and I would be very surprised if Kevin James does not make a sequel with the same cast. This is well worth a watch for all ages.