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Balls of Fury
Directed by: Ben Garant
Starring: Dan Fogler
Genre:
Comedy
Run Time: 90 min.
Release Date:
August 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
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 (CLICK) 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.
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Image from Balls of Fury
DVD cost: $11.38
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy: George Lopez does a brief Al Pacino parody of Scarface
by wielding an automatic weapon and yelling, "You wanna play rough?
Okay! Say hello to my little friend!"
Movie Quote: "In
my hand I hold a cricket."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Balls of Fury
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