Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle

Balls of Fury 

Dan Fogler (who looks like Meat Loaf, but not the real Meat Loaf, more like the guy who played Meat Loaf in the VH1 movie about … Meat Loaf) stars as Randy Daytona – a former child prodigy ping pong player who suffered a horrible defeat and tragedy at a tournament strangely resembling, but, for legal reasons, not called The Olympics. 

Almost 20 years later, he is part of a cheesy stage show at a Reno casino, when the FBI comes calling.  Agent Ernie Rodriguez (George Lopez) needs Daytona to re-enter competitive ping pong to be invited to a top secret, high stakes tournament run by the infamous crime lord, Feng (Christopher Walken).  Now, Daytona can avenge his greatest defeat, take down the man who ruined his father and regain his self-respect if he is up to the challenge.

Balls of Fury is counting heavily on a suggestive title to make you giggle, but doesn’t bring enough jokes to match comedies like Superbad  or The Simpsons Movie – both of which are still in theaters for those who want something special this weekend.  It’s not a horrible movie, but writers Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant (who also serves as director) seem to give us half the jokes needed to make this a fast paced comedy, and a few too many allusions to familiar movies to be original.  They both must love Scarface and Enter The Dragon (even going so far as naming one character The Dragon, maybe that's supposed to be "subtle") because they try to use material and storylines from each ad nauseum, but I can rent either one of those and be happier than buying a ticket to this.  Plus, Garant and Lennon skim the surface of comedy angles, never going much past the obvious or routine with any character or storyline.   

While Garant and Lennon rely on so many kicks and blows to the crotch you might think you are watching America’s Funniest Home Videos or some sort of strange DVD Mommy and Daddy keep hidden in the bottom of a dresser drawer with a weird leather mask, they do find some moments to raise the bar and deliver solid laughs.  Several familiar faces show up as ping pong competitors, including Terry Crews and Lennon himself, and ham it up appropriately for our amusement.  Additionally, Fogler avoids making Daytona into a complete doofus, which is a relief.  He’s funny and goofy, but not so dumb you wonder how he could be breathing.   

Balls of Fury feels like a movie Will Ferrell turned down, and you’ll see why someday, hopefully for free, on Comedy Central. 

1 ½ Waffles (Out of 4)

Balls of Fury is rated PG-13 for crude and sex related humor and for language

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