The Foot Fist Way Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Small town Tae Kwon Do instructor Fred Simmons relishes the power that comes from being the king of a small kingdom. A former champion, Mr. Simmons fancies himself one in the same as his hero, Chuck "The Truck" Wallace, a B-movie Martial Arts film star. Mr. Simmons openly boasts about his self-proclaimed status as "king of the demo" [Tae Kwon Do demonstration], even though he can't nail one to save his life. His only vulnerability lies in his adoration of his wife Suzie - a weakness that comes bubbling to the surface when Mr. Simmons discovers Suzie has cheated on him with her new boss. When Suzie leaves him, Mr. Simmons finds himself slipping into a crushing downward spiral. He struggles to keep "the power" by abusing anyone who challenges him. After losing students and making a fool out of himself, he finds allies in Julio Chavez, his nine-year-old apprentice, and Henry Harrison, one of his students with an "obvious confidence problem." When his bizarre best friend Mike McAllister comes to visit, the four make a pilgrimage to meet the greatest Martial Artist of all time, "The Truck," at a Tae Kwon Do convention. What starts as a crazy man's expedition to escape turns into a trip of discovery, as Mr. Simmons and his crew party with "The Truck" and Mr. Simmons convinces him to perform a demo at his Tae Kwon Do school during the upcoming belt-qualifying testing. Inspired with renewed strength, Fred returns from the convention clear-headed and at the top of his game, until he is shocked by an unexpected turn of events when Suzie returns home, and the "The Truck" flies in from Hollywood to appear at his Tae Kwon Do school. In the end, Mr. Simmons faces the greatest test of his power and finds the strength he outwardly projects within his own spirit.
| Danny R. McBride | Fred Simmons |
| Ben Best | Chuck 'The Truck' Wallace |
| Mary Jane Bostic | Suzie Simmons |
| Ken Aguilar | Rick |
| Tyler Baum | Armand |
| Sean Baxter | Roy Powers |
| Bruce Cameron | Bruce |
| Juan-Carlos Guzman | Carlos |
| Jody Hill | Mike McAlister |
| Jeff Hoffman | Dr. Love |
| Carlos Lopez | Henry Harrison |
| Spencer Moreno | Julio Chavez |
| Nicholas Stanley | Lil' Stevie Fisher |
| Chris Walldorf | Shane |
| Erin Fisher | Ticket Girl #1 |
| Jody Hill |
6.30 out of 10 (1210 votes)
Visitor Reviews
The foot in mouth way...
posted on 27 Jul 2009Anyone who has stepped into a dojo anywhere in the United States in the past 40 years will instantly recognize the Danny McBride character in THE FOOT FIST WAY. When the "kung fu craze" started in the early 1970s (thanks to the importing of hundreds of Chinese martial arts movies- which, unlike the samurai movies that preceded them, gave us heroes who relied on their own physical abilities to resolve disputes), the local dojos where I lived upped enrollment (and monthly fees) and guaranteed students "a black belt in six months!" And the instructors delivered: six months after joining, locals were showing off their new black belts. (The only black belt I've ever met in my life who would've given me pause in a street fight was Joe Lewis, the first full-contact heavyweight karate champion of the world.) Like it or not, THE FOOT FIST WAY happens to be a very accurate look at American martial arts (it's certainly superior to David Mamet's moronic mixed martial arts movie, RED BELT) and, for that reason if no other, rates a look.
Not a Very Remarkable Film
posted on 25 Jun 2009A karate (okay, tae kwon do) instructor (Danny McBride) loses it when his wife is found to be unfaithful ... and then he does something. You know, like flip out. On his students.This film came to me sadly over-recommended. I mean, not really highly recommended, but even moderately was just too much. There was some "I heard it was good", and it was to go along with "Pineapple Express", which I enjoyed. But this just wasn't really that funny. At all. Sure, it had a few good moments. A kid gets beat up, there's a poor Chuck Norris knock-off. But this just isn't all that good. That's all I even really want to type. Disposable film.Do yourself a favor and watch films not starring Danny McBride. He's a fine cameo or bit player but not a lead.
Danny McBride Has a Career, Therefore I DEMAND One!
posted on 17 Jun 2009a couple of camcorders and a lot of cussing. That's it. My god, this might have been a very funny YouTube short, if kept to the length of Will Ferrell's Land Lord sketch, but this thing was just a joke.Guys, there's a bit more to making a decent film than getting drunk, thinking up silly stuff and acting it out.This movie has no more finesse than low-budget porn, the kind where the camera guy won't shut up. . "you like that? You like that? yeah, I bet you like that. you like that?" Where the hell did McBride come from, and would he please go back there?Weak movie. Way too long. Bad.
Actually a very real, human-like movie
posted on 02 Apr 2009I like The foot fist way very much. The reason for this is simple; it's very realistic and human-like. Normally all movies are cool slick Hollywood movies. Where everybody is perfect, and the good guy always gets the beautiful girl in the end and every fight scene lasts 20 minutes,....well not in my life.The main character of The Foot Fist Way is actually very easy to recognize in the first place. Many people ARE like him, and many people probably can identify with the main character. I know I can. Hell, maybe people say I'm a loser for admitting this, but I know my life more resembles 'the foot fist way' than it does 'Casino Royale' or 'Die Hard'.I practice karate, and although this movie is about Tea Kwon Do (these sports are very similar), I can tell you that the exaggerations are real. And there are people out there that are made off no more than hot air.Anyway, the 'crappy' filming makes this movie almost a documentary. And the fact that the actors are so simple, and not famous is very refreshing. I like real life, and I like movies that represent real-life. The Hollywood fairy tales are awful, in my opinion. The pace of the movie is good, and I thought is was short....I was really entertained. And real martial arts isn't as spectacular as we get to see in Hollywood movies, its as crappy as presented in this film. (in the sense of 'normal' people that practice martial arts).In my opinion the producers were successful in creating a funny movie about things in life we all can relate to.
Cult classic written all over it
posted on 22 Oct 2008This is the type of movie that gets funnier each time you watch it, just like The Big Lebowski. It takes a while to get a feel for the level of realism (a bit more serious than Napoleon Dynamite), but when you're finally tuned in to the wavelength of the makers, you can almost instantly re-watch it (which will not take up too much time because it's refreshingly short). Once you know the characters are a bit silly, but not trying to generate cheap laughs or thrills (it must have been tempting to let Mr. Simmons totally snap, or have an all out brawl at the hotel room party, or let Mrs. Simmons show some more skin), the story becomes remarkably solid.
it's awesome
posted on 26 Sep 2008it's like napoleon dynamite meets spinal tap for the martial arts (specifically Tae Kwon Do)Our antihero is in a world all his own, a Tae Kwon Do instructor that drives like a bad-ass jerk, and he lives like he drives - stepping on those around him, oblivious to his effect on others. Well, not to give anything away - spoiler alert! - everything comes crashing down around him and it looks like all is lost.I think the acting was fine, it was a bit over the top and intentionally approached to feature somewhat 'natural reactions' to an over the top character. The wife, the hero, the antihero - these roles were exaggerated and I believe this is where the other comment about horrible acting came from. I still enjoyed the movie and was not put off or removed from the fantasy of the film. Yeah the wife wasn't the best actress but it didn't detract from her role and once you're into the movie these things are minor. I also thought Napoleon Dynamite was stupid until I watched it for a bit and the whole approach sunk in.It's about his redemption and growth through a trial, and his realization of what he does and is doing to others, and his turn around from the jerk to the teacher, trusted and confident. I thought it was a really funny film, a bit inspiring, and just all around good times. Maybe not everyone's type of humor but I really dug it. Give it a shot.
You'll Be Quoting It For Years To Come!!!
posted on 06 Jun 2008What makes "The Foot Fist Way" so funny? Well I'll tell you what; Danny Mcbride, Jody Hill, and Ben Bests terrific sarcastic and satirical writing style. This movie was very well done for the budget and what it had to offer. I love the mockery of Tae Kwon Do and American culture the movie brings forth. Their writing style is highly innovative as Hill and the rest bring a new type humor out to our plates. I would frame this style as extremely sarcastic and satirical with a smidgen of realism. This whole movie sort of reminded me of one of my favorite shows of all time "Mr. Show, with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross" Now that being said, right there in itself that is a huge compliment.The movie is about a local Tae Kwon Do instructor named Fred Simmons(McBride) and his struggles with Delusions of Grangeur, his wife's infidelity and the students he teaches. This movie takes us on a documentary type feel through Simmons life and the nervous breakdown he encounters while trying to keep his cool through his own life's problems. Well believe me when I say some peoples miseries are others reasons for cracking up! McBride is great as the self absorbed, narcissistic Simmon's and will be loved by anyone who was ever taught Tae Kwon Do by an overweight, possibly alcoholic, terribly tacky and American martial arts teacher who drives a 1987 Ferrari for flash.I believe it takes a certain type of viewer to enjoy this film though- Someone of intelligence, sarcasm prone and satire friendly. If you fit that type of viewer depiction then "The Foot Fist Way" is a must see! A cult classic for many years to come,With some of the greatest one liners of all time and a kick ass cheesy soundtrack to boot. The specific FFW viewer will always love and quote this GEM.
Napoleon Dynamite: The Mid-Life Crisis Years
posted on 04 Mar 2008As the summary says... emotionally retarded obnoxious sociopath deadpans his way from one embarrassing situation to the next before a final small moment of redemption.So derivative of that type of comedy, right down to the Wes Anderson-esquire slo-mos that on the surface appear life-affirming but really expect us to step back and mock the complete idiocy of what and who we are seeing.I can't forgive the filmmakers that sense of superiority if they're offering me such a half-assed movie with not one new idea to its name.A few funny scenes - when the old lady gets floored, when the two kids are in the car alone with Jody Hill - but they get lost in the general mix of flat unpleasantness.Every scene with Collette Wolfe and McBride was terrible, probably the worst in the film, especially the one where he's coming on to her after his wife's left. Just really badly constructed and underwritten, like they'd been crowbarred into the film at the last minute to pad it out. Felt sorry for the actors as the embarrassment they were trying to portray was probably real.They could have gotten away more with McBride's unlikability if they'd rounded his character a bit, shown us some charm or wit or pathos or compassion.When I think of the best comedic tyrants - Walter Burns, Isaac Davis, Ben Braddock, ItCoM's Chad, Royal Tennebaum - they had much more complexity and were, in their own twisted way, appealing people. There was really very little shading to him or to the comedy.Even by the finish, I guess where we were supposed to feel some form of emotional attachment in that he's left his wife, proved his worth at the exams, re-asserted himself to his class, it just falls flat. How can we enjoy the end of the road when the journey there was so bad?
drama and comedy are close, this is a drama
posted on 28 Jan 2008at least thats my view. i do not consider this movie a comedy at all. sure it has some funny scenes. but most of it makes you despise the main character even more. and still at the end you see the core of him being real. it's great how the director manages to make this turn plausible. i wasn't aware of the low budget nature of the movie till i read the reviews here. it really doesn't hurt it. and the acting is absolutely adequate. in conclusion: it's a great film about real live (similar to andreas dresen's movies about German life). it sure hurts but still can't be denied. maybe you just have to like this kind of movie. i sure did.
Pretty funny if you've taken martial arts before!
posted on 22 Jan 2008This movie will be funny if...1.) You like Will Ferrell style of comedy 2.) You've taken martial arts for more than 1 year or so.I only watched the first half so far, but this movie is GREAT. The lead actor is HILARIOUS, his cocky ignorant attitude is OFF THE WALL FUNNY.....I just love movies like this.......it's going to be like Napolean Dynamite, you either Love it or Hate it, Period....If you have a sarcastic style of comedy, or like other films by Adam McKay or Will Ferrell, you'll probably love this movie.It's just funny watching what the martial arts instructor will do next.----BTW: I cant believe there are people dumb enough to like Danny R. McBride in stupid movies like PineApple Express, but don't like him in THIS movie! Are you insane! Danny is A THOUSAND times funnier in this Foot Fist Way movie!I HATED Pineapple Express...seth rogen or whatever is NOT funny....the ending was great though.Danny is the new Will Ferrell though, no doubt.
Tae Kwon Don't!
posted on 21 Dec 2007THE FOOT FIST WAY (2008) ** Danny McBride, Mary Jane Bostic, Ben Best, Juan-Carlos Guzman, Carlos Lopez, Collette Wolfe, Ken Aguilar. One-note comedy about a delusional strip-mall tae kwon do 'master' instructor (tool Mc Bride who grates more than gains guffaws) whose idiotic ways get the best of him when his sluttish wife (Bostic) cheats on him, sending him into a whirlwind as he is attempting to lure his idol, movie martial arts star Chuck "the Truck" Wallace (Best) for a public appearance at his school. Newcomer Jody Hill (who has an admittedly funny co-starring role as an intense comrade-in-arms of McBride's, and also co-scripted with his star and Best) attempts for a "Napoleon Dynamite" meets "The Office" mockumentary feel for awkward, cringe-inducing comedy and has more misses than hits. Executive produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, two other delusional comic geniuses who probably should've let the former do the heavy lifting.
Not as funny as it could be, but there's potential here
posted on 08 Oct 2007Surprise hit comedies are generally the ones that feature a relatively under-exposed actor with great comedic talent in a central role. That is what Danny McBride as Fred Simmons is supposed to be. It's not a bad movie, but it scratches the surface of what it could be. It feels like "The Foot Fist Way" is the very long pilot of a TV series that didn't get picked up: like there was something more that needed to happen and characters that needed to be developed.The film is a small character-driven comedy created by a trio of friends who have been nurtured by the Will Ferrell and Adam McKay screwball character movie teat. Danny McBride, the star, Jody Hill, director and supporting actor and Ben Best, supporting actor, all wrote the story of Simmons, a tae kwan do instructor in Alabama who's full of himself yet humbly insecure.There's really no plot until halfway through the movie, giving it that episodic "this should be broken up into smaller, fleshed out parts" feel. Supporting characters jump in and out rather than contribute to a flowing narrative. The only thing that stays solid is the rocky relationship subplot between Simmons and his tall-built bimbo wife (a rather untalented Mary Jane Bostic).Admirably, these three amigos try and create a character for McBride that is both a verbal machine gun of ridiculous phrases and someone who uses that same egotistical technique to work out his emotional problems. In other words, someone who is supposed to be hilarious but self-revealing at the same time -- a complex goofball. Their first trial run is hit or miss on the comedic end and just short on creating a meaningful character. McBride is capable, but they don't really push the concept hard enough.A glorified TV episode might be all it is, but there's talent in this group of aspiring comedy filmmakers.
Pretty dang bad
posted on 02 Oct 2007I hate that I didn't like this movie. If I sit down and am prepared to be open and laugh at a movie, I can usually find the humor in it, but I am just dumbfounded on how this movie could reach anywhere above a 4 rating on IMDb....much less the 6.3 rating it has at the time of this posting. I think I recall laughing maybe three times the whole movie....of which were somewhat forced. To be honest, I think I've actually lost some respect for Will Ferrell and Adam Mckay just for recommending this movie so highly. This flick actually had some potential: The main guy being a loser that takes his goofy job waaay to seriously, his placement of some obviously "Pedro"-like kid as his top student, the dumb blonde wife, the overly-cocky bad guy........but unfortunately, it just doesn't deliver on any of the ideas. I seriously think (not just exaggerating) that Ferrell and Mckay were on something the first time they watched this, and possibly every time since. If you're just some mindless frat-boy that thinks foul language is funny, well then I guess you might think this is funny. But there's no joke behind a lot of it, just randomly placed f-bombs. At least with most of Mckay's stuff, there's still a joke behind the language.People have mentioned the acting. Well let me reinforce that. The acting is BAD. The wife is the worst of all, and I can't believe they couldn't find ANY other hot girl to play the part. Look on IMDb at her acting credits......there's a reason she's only been in one other role. You could probably find better acting in most high school one act plays. Danny McBride was fine, and really is pretty decent when under a good director and writers. But it's almost like they just made it up as they went along. I guess I understand comparing it to Napolean Dynamite just for the fact that the characters are intentionally lame, but other than that, it's more or less a slap in the face to Jon Heder to say this movie can amount to ND in anyway (and "No"--I'm not any kind of hardcore Napolean Dynamite fan). It actually took me four sittings to finish this movie (sometimes cause I didn't have the time to finish it or cause I just couldn't make it through it any longer). I only gave it two stars cause by the time I had to turn it off the third time to go to work, I actually sorta wanted to know how it ended and sit down the fourth time to finish it....so I guess the end of the story had somewhat of a redeeming factor. And please understand, I get the whole dry-humor, lame characters, low-budget thing. I watched the Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, and while it definitely wasn't that great.....I still got the humor more than I did this one and actually laughed once in a while at it.Anywhoo.........you get the point. It's BAD.
Acting left a lot to be desired in places
posted on 02 Oct 2007They could have done so much with this movie but somewhere along the way it became just another movie about how a loser comes to terms with his weaknesses and ends up a winner. The movie definitely ends on that "Feel Good" note, that said, the wife's role could've done with some character development, her acting wasn't inspiring to say the least.It definitely was funny in parts, especially the scene where Danny pits an old lady against the class bully. The story was quite predictable as is the case with such movies. I would say, avoid seeing this movie at a theater and maybe wait for the DVD to come out.
more like the foot in mouth way. Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful
posted on 06 Sep 2007I must have missed something because unlike everyone else i thought this was the worst comedy i've seen in years. Danny Mc Bride maybe OK as a supporting character but a leading man he ain't. His brand of comedy always seems forced, he puts himself in awkward situations and then just spouts random rubbish for 30 to 60 secs and that's it. Every character he plays is rude and obnoxious with no redeeming features, That can also be said about everyone else in this film apart from the two kids. Also if your gonna do a film about martial arts it helps if the lead actor can actually do it. Im not talking about the breaking of the blocks, I'm talking about the one real fight scene where everything is filmed in close so as to compensate the actors lack of ability. If i could id give it a 0/10 i would, if i could be bothered i would sort out the spelling and grammar of this comment but i've wasted enough of my time on this rubbish. I can't believe watching this has made me so angry, probably because I bought this thinking it was gonna be good. So who really wins me moaning after the fact or the filmmakers who've just pocketed another 6 quid and will continue to make more dross like this thanks to me.
One of the worst movies i have ever seen
posted on 27 Aug 2007Basically a movie is made up of actors and actresses to entertain people. The females in this movies early acting was horrible it was like these people were found on a street corner and asked if they would like to be in a film. The whole point of a movie is to have actresses and actors to make the film not look like a total pile of crap in this movie they did not do this. The utter lack of responcablity by the Director and Casters of this film is the worse i have ever seen. I mean i have seen some B movies that weren't to bad cause you know they were B movies. This here was labeled as a normal film but it went beyond a B flick cause money was spent to make it. The problem here is the total lack of acting that goes on during the first 10 minutes or so i couldn't get past that part it bothers me when people don't even show any type of effort to make a good movie. They could have went out and got some actors and actresses that could actually act i mean i don't think thats to much to ask myself. The people that made this film ,the actors/actresses should be ashamed of themselves they should go out and get a job in the correct field i would say "shoe salesperson" I would not recommend this movie to anyone that can hear or see.
Excellent Low budget movie
posted on 13 Aug 2007I've read a few comments on here about how bad this looks, how the actors suck but people seem to forget this was a first movie made for $79,000. The actors were mainly amateurs, for most of them this was their first film. People who have commented on this would be the kind of people to dismiss Clerks because it's black and white and looks crap. With low budget movies you have to judge them by different standards. The film isn't going to look like a Hollywood picture, the actors aren't going to win any Oscars. In this kind of film you to have to look at potential and this film shows that Jody Hill and Danny Mcbride have bags of the stuff. The execution may not be perfect but this is a funny film, it's wrong in so many ways, it'll upset and offend but I think that's the point. But for all the swearing, the granny beating and the kid beatings the movie has it's heart in the right place. Danny Mcbrides Fred Simmons is a looser but he's been able to find himself with the help of martial arts and now he wants to help others do the same. It's a good film maybe not to everyones tastes but a good example of first time film making.
Future comedy classic
posted on 29 Apr 2007Jody Hill has shown himself to be a master of letting his actors play and simply be. He sells a simple sports story in a totally unique, wonderful and hilarious way... The humor completely taps into the modern comedy style of allowing large characters to be portrayed subtly and with multiple dimensions. This new brand of comedy is rare in American cinema, although the Europeans (like Ricky Gervais) have been perfecting it for years... Danny Mc. Bride, in a role destined for cult legend status, will soon be a comedy star with his unassuming way of selling the laughs naturally without cramming it down the audience's throat. Can't wait to see what this crew pulls together next, they are truly the type of guys who will be looked at and exalted in the years to come.
contains some spoiler, mostly review
posted on 12 Mar 2007This movie is pretty entertaining. I think it was worth the watch. I have to say a few things critically about it without revealing too much about the plot. This movie had all of the makings of a "10" cult film, but falls short. I get it with the plot & the acne & the realism. Also Simmon's adulterous wife was played really well by Mary Jane Bostick. Even though I can't stand adultery in people and usually find myself hating the adulterous characters, I kind of understood hers, because she was so out there that it almost didn't even seem untruthful. I can't explain it but I am fascinated by her acting and I want to see more of her acting hopefully in a different kind of role though. I did not like how Simmon's friend from childhood was crucial to the meeting of the buck the Truck fighter guy, but then fell off that story line. Once their is group confrontation I like it to stay group confrontation. I was actually predicting the old friend to reappear potentially with his old friend to kick the crap out of buck the night before the dojo's big gig. That's not how it works out.
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Funny, low-budget film about a Taekwondo's instructors life
posted on 04 Aug 2009This film made me laugh a lot which is rare. It's an original (and let's face it that's rare) subject and was made in just 19 days shot in North Carolina. It's low budget and has some endearing characters (some of the kids rock) in it. It also actually shows people how they look in real life e.g. acne on their face which is quite shocking in itself as we usually only see pixel perfect complexions. The characters maybe stereotypical and shallow but who cares when the main aim is for laughs? The main character (according to my girlfriend) is reminiscent of Ricky Gervais in the Office (Brit comedy) but he always remains likable. I hope these actors and directors will make it big one day and you can impress / annoy by saying how you saw them in their early days. If you want some good laughs and an original subject matter then go see this film.