Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: courtesy of www.ballsoffury.com Actor Dan Fogler (Randy Daytona) stares down the competition in "Balls of Fury."

Lately movies with slap-stick comedy have come off as too dull and unoriginal. "Balls of Fury" is not that kind of movie.
A cast of unknown and known actors play characters such as secret agents and athletes looking to find a mystery man who is a gun dealer and a murderer.
The movie started strong with funny antics like those of "Caddy Shack," "The Bad News Bears" and "Dodgeball." Old jokes are brought back with a new-age edge.
Also, the picture slightly resembles the "Rocky" movies but with more outlandish training methods such as the star swatting bees in a freezer to gain his pingpong strength back.
The picture is a tribute to movies made by Bruce Lee about underground fighting matches except these matches are underground pingpong matches.
The actors increase the funny factor because the different acting styles mixed together make the scenes even funnier. Christopher Walken (Feng) with his straight-faced demeanor making wise cracks or off-the-wall remarks is not usually associated with an actor of that caliber. Add in George Lopez whose stand-up-comedian-delivered lines coupled with his straight-face look shoots the funny factor upwards. Newbie actor Dan Fogler (Randy Daytona), a relaxed version of Jack Black, danced and acted with childish mannerisms in most scenes.
The movie lags toward the end, but is one to add to a collection of movies to watch when a laugh is needed. The movie was great at the theater but I suggest waiting for the DVD release.
Kudos to unknown actor Fogler as his part in the movie will score him other roles in comedies to come.

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