Media Maven: Balls of Fury Movie Review
Balls of Fury
Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, Maggie Q, James Hong, Terry Crews, Diedrich Bader, AishaTyler, Patton Oswald, George Lopez
Silly! Silly! Silly!
Balls of Fury is this summers silliest film around. Its bubble gum. Its a retreat from the heat. Its a laugh out loud, mindless ninety minutes of time spent being amused with outlandish sight gags and over the top acting from one of the best: Christopher Walken.
Balls of Fury is an innocuous comedy in the vein of movies like Airport or Hot Shots. None of the actors display a serious commitment to high brow thespian aspirations (Think Meryl Streep, Al Pacino). There is, however, an obvious pact for everyone involved to have a good time! This is not to say that talent does not abound.
The lead actor, Dan Fogler, plays a washed up professional ping-pong champ. He so acutely conveys the slovenly way of an overweight, child sports star has- been that one would never guess he was in fact the recipient of multiple acting awards and a Tony for his role in the Broadway musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Aiesha Tyler struts her athletic prowess as a sharp shooter hitting her every mark with deadly blow darts in scene after scene.
Patton Oswald as the asthmatic, unlikely opponent to upstage Foglers first big comeback tournament is hysterical. Yet one of the funniest running gags is led by Diedrich Bader. He is buffed, baffled and bewildered as a captive sex slave who is stuck working nights pleasuring Mob Boss Fengs (Christopher Walkens) guests. Sheer lunacy!
The outstanding computer generated ping pong sight gags are matched by a wry script directed by Ben Garant and co-written by Thomas Lennon, both of the TV comedy Reno 911.
Balls of Fury will never come near an Academy Award nomination. I wouldnt recommend it if it did. But if you are looking for a film that is as moronic as it is playfully silly then go see Balls of Fury.
Rating: Three Chic Stars
Jans Movie Rating System:
5 – Top notch entertainment
4 – Compelling, Heartwarming, Thrilling, Comical
3 – The a) story b) actors c) special effects saved/made this movie.
2 – If you are bored watch it, or wait for DVD
1 – Dont bother. Too morose, too violent, too blasé, an enigma.
