Arts & Entertainment
Film Reviews
Here Comes the Boom: Teacher
Moonlights as MMA Prizefighter
to Save School’s Music Program
S
cott Voss (Kevin James) is a bored biology teacher at
mythical Wilkinson High in Massachusetts, a cash-
strapped school suffering from low morale. The apa-
thetic slacker is part of the problem, as he sets a horrible
example for his students, between stealing candy from
vending machines and always arriving late for class.
During recess, the bored, 42 year-old bachelor makes a
habit of flirting with the beautiful school nurse, Bella
(Salma Hayek). However, she just as routinely rebuffs his
advances with gentle reminders of how often she’s rejected
each of his requests for a date.
The plot thickens the day Principal Betcher (Gregg Ger-
man) assembles the faculty in the auditorium to announce
his latest budgetary cutbacks. Those money-saving meas-
ures not only include plans to eliminate afterschool activi-
ties like the debate club and field trips but even the entire
music program.
K AM ’ S
C APSULES
And the discovery of
their whereabouts by
the rabidly anti-West-
ern, Khomeini regime
would have undoubt-
edly triggered another
international
incident.
So, they surreptitiously contacted the CIA which assigned
their rescue to Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), an exfiltration
specialist with a perfect record of freeing captives from
such perilous predicaments. Agent Mendez proceeded to
hatch an attention-grabbing scheme that was the antithesis
of the sort of clandestine operation one might expect of a
spy.
His high-profile plan involved creating a cover for the
stranded diplomats by making a movie that was actually
nothing more than a CIA front. First, he enlisted the assis-
tance of a veteran Hollywood executive (Alan Arkin) and
an Oscar-winner (John Goodman) sworn to secrecy, to lend
an air of authenticity to the ruse by posing as the picture’s
producer and makeup artist, respectively.
The media falls for it hook, line and sinker, and soon Tin-
seltown was abuzz about “Argo,” an upcoming sci-fi set to
be shot on location in Iran. Upon arriving at the ambas-
sador’s house, the hero hands the six Americans newly-pre-
pared passports with fresh identities as members of a
Canadian film crew.
Movie
Reviews by
Kam
Williams
‘Argo’
The tension rapidly ratchets-up in intensity as the ever-
vigilant Iranian authorities close-in just as the diplomats
make their escape to the airport where the slightest slip dur-
ing an interrogation could mean the difference between life
and death. An edge-of-your-seat thriller not to be forgotten
at Oscar time!
Argo
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for profanity and violent images.
Running time: 120 minutes
Distributor: Warner Brothers
‘Here Comes the Boom’
That means Scott’s colleague Marty Streb (Henry Win-
kler) will be callously laid-off right before earning tenure.
And to add insult to injury, the dedicated music teacher’s
firing comes at a time when his wife (Nikki Tyler-Flynn) is
pregnant.
This dire state of affairs inspires Scott to prevail upon the
principal to preserve his pal’s position. But Betcher says he
simply doesn’t have the $48,000 to pay Marty.
Therefore, Scott, who hasn’t wrestled competitively since
college, decides to raise the cash by moonlighting in the
ring as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. With the help of Marty
and a retired kickboxing champ (Bas Rutten), he proceeds
to whip himself into the best shape a middle-aged couch
potato might hope for.
So unfolds “Here Comes the Boom,” a sweet-natured,
overcoming-the-odds sports saga combining familiar ele-
ments of Rocky (1976) and Nacho Libre (2006). Directed
by Frank Coraci (The Waterboy), the star vehicle showcas-
es Kevin James’ comic genius at his best, whether he’s
doing pratfalls in a mask and ill-fitting stretchy pants or
futilely wooing the woman of his dreams.
The paint-by-numbers plot inexorably builds to a UFC-
sanctioned showdown between Scott and an intimidating
adversary (Krzysztof Soszynski) for a purse conveniently
matching Marty’s salary. Wouldn’t it be nice if Wilkinson’s
student body and school band were on hand in the Vegas
arena to cheer for their altruistic teach, and better yet if
Bella had a change of heart and also arrived ringside for a
kiss at the moment of truth?
Here Comes the Boom
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG for sports violence, crude humor and mild
epithets.
Running time: 105 minutes
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Argo: Espionage Thriller
Recounts Diplomats’ Daring
Escape from Iran
O
n Nov. 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the walls
of the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, taking 52 Ameri-
cans hostage with hopes of exchanging them for the
recently-deposed Shah. What ensued was a 444-day ordeal
which would last long after the despised despot died in exile
without standing trial.
While that drawn-out standoff continued to occupy the
world’s attention as front-page news, almost no one knew
that a half-dozen Americans had managed to steal away
unnoticed during the assault and taken refuge in the home
of the Canadian Ambassador, Ken Taylor (Victor Garber).
October 10, 2012
The Portland Skanner Page 7