The Best Film Of 2012

Rating: 10/10 (1 March 2013)

I really love Here Comes The Boom (HCTB), and everything about it, in fact it is my favorite film of 2012. That includes the music (Holly, Holy), the script and the characters. I think the standouts were Charice (Malia), former UFC Champion Bas Rutten (Niko), and of course, Music Teacher, Marty Streb (Henry Winkler). The comedy between Niko and Marty was priceless, particularly spoilers: The food fight scene in the Vegas Hotel. There are a lot of dramatic undercurrents throughout the film such as cutbacks in schools, people giving up, and bureaucracy. Perhaps the most interesting performance belonged to Salma Hayak as School Nurse, Bella Flores. If you are a Salma fan (You know she usually plays extremely lusty over the top characters (The ultimate eye candy)). But here (With the exception of the dinner scene), you do not see that Salma. Instead, you see a very dignified woman who really likes 43 year old Biology Teacher, Scott Voss (Kevin James), but not the way he is. Like when she pointed out "You never ask me out standing up." Also she is the one who fixes him up when he is hurt, and makes sure he has a rooting section when he has to go fight Dietrich in the Octagon. One important point is, there are some people who think there was no chemistry between Scott and Bella. Trust me there was, it was just very understated, and not overt. Anyone who sees the film, knows Bella was only in scenes that involved Scott, and she always had his back (Even in the beginning when he was still a screw up (Such as they showed in the beginning of the film), but was the basically the only teacher who really wanted to help save Marty's Music Dept). All she wanted was for him to respect her, and even more importantly, himself. One thing about sports films (and HCTB with Ultimate Fighting is without question a sports film) is they are almost never ambiguous, you know exactly how they end. One notable exception was "The Main Event" with Barbara Streisand as Hillary Kramer and Ryan O'Neal as Eddie Scanlon. What happens to these two after she throws in the towel to end the fight (When he was winning). HCTB offers up an ambiguous ending as well. Major Spoilers ahead: We know by Scott winning the $50,000 in the Octogon, Marty's music program is saved (And he can provide for his wife and the new baby), we know Niko and the other immigrants gain their citizenship, we also know his brother Eric (Gary Valentine)has his marriage saved, and regains the love of his wife and kids after he becomes a Top Chef in a Phillippean restaurant owned by Malia's dad, thus, Malia can focus in on her music and studies, and we know Principal Betcher (Greg Germann), was caught stealing from the school, and will go to jail. But what happens to Scott in the end is not so clear cut. What I think happened, is hinted at in the final two scenes: First, you do not see him back in his Biology Class, he is also shown very well dressed (unlike throughout the rest of the film), when he goes to check in on Marty and the music program, and when he and Bella (Holding hands) go to the Citizenship Ceremony for Niko and the other immigrants. It is almost like Scott is saying goodbye to everyone in his previous life (Except Bella who is going with him). Keep in mind, he sacrificed a lot to make other people's lives better, and instead of going back to teaching (And dealing with many of the same people who really don't care about anyone or anything except themselves (The types who said nothing or even encouraged the shutting down of the music department)), he realized now it is time to move on, and essentially for the first time in years, do Scott (And I think based on his dress and increased self confidence, became successful doing it). Where will he go and what will he do? Wherever and whatever he wants, because he knows with Bella beside him, he will succeed. Basically a great film, and my favorite of 2012. 10/10 Stars