Here Comes the Boom (肉腳擂台) is an 2012 film. The movie stars Kevin James, Henry Winkler, Salma Hayek, and Bas Rutten. The supporting cast includes Reggie Lee and Charice. MMA fighters making cameos include Mark Muñoz, Jason Miller, Satoshi Ishii, Wanderlei Silva, and Chael Sonnen. There were lots of others from the MMA world as well, too numerous to name.
James plays Scott Voss, an High School biology teacher. When school cuts are made, he makes a promise to the music teacher to help the school raise funds. After a bake sale and some other activities, Scott soon realized that he needs to do something else. While watching a UFC fight, he's told the the loser of the fight gets $10K. Needing only $50K to help the music program, he starts to train for and fight with the purpose of losing. Along the way, he gets better and actually wins. Drawing the attention of the UFC, he's given a shot to help save the music program.
This movie was awesome. I was laughing for much of the movie. It also has nice touches of sensitivity. On a recent plane trip overseas, I must have watched bits and pieces of this film like 10 times. I liked it that much. And you should too. Watch it.
James does his lovable teacher gag to perfection. Add in some family, school, and personal drama, you've got a great compelling story. Throw in the UFC and MMA in general as the backdrop, it adds so many more layers. From trying to save the USA's music programs, the legitimacy of MMA/UFC in general as an acceptable sport, national school cut backs, immigrants trying to become naturalized in the US, and real life economic hardships. It touches more, but those were the main themes I picked up.
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