Essentially greenlit the minute Will Ferrell made a few bucks off Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory, Balls of Fury takes off when a former professional child table tennis phenomenon, Randy Daytona
(played
by the latest comedian to step up to leading man role, Dan Fogler) is
recruited by FBI agent Rodriguez (US favourite George Lopez) for a
mission in the unsanctioned, underground and utterly unhinged world of
extreme table tennis.
Theres a few more plot points thrown in
there - determined to bounce back to his former glory, find his
father’s killer, rematch his arch nemesis, get the girl, etc.
This
is essentially a spoof movie, with every inch of the story a complete
pisstake of the genre - and for the most part, it's pretty clever in
that department. There are some real genuine laughs to be had
(although, it does take 30 odd minutes for the flick to warm up and
find form) but by and large it's not so much a bad movie, as much as it
is an amazingly average one.
Lopez and Fogler suffer the most
here, with Lopez looking downright awkward in front of the camera and
Fogler coming off as a less energetic Jack Black (minus the laughs).
Thankfully, Christopher Walken and the slew of cameos from comedians
helps pick up the pace somewhat. Special mention must be made of James
Hong (an actor who has essentially played the same Asian-comedy part
for the last 20 years) who delivers 95% of the laugh-out-loud moments
as the wise & blind ping pong teacher.
Worthwhile checking
out if there is nothing else on, but largely forgettable when there are
so many more movies like it that deliver a product which is much more
memorable. EXTRAS
The
usual. Deleted Scenes, Alternate Endings and featurettes. Could have
used a few bloopers or extended scenes thrown in, especially
considering the number of quality performers in the movie, but they are
delegated to the credits for those really after some entertainment.
Again, not a bad movie - just nothing to write home... or on the internet... about.
Conclusion:
Movie 65% Extras: 60%
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