The Foot Fist Way
Encyclopedia
The Foot Fist Way is a 2006 low-budget comedy film
directed by Jody Hill
and starring Danny R. McBride
. Will Ferrell
and Adam McKay
's production company, Gary Sanchez Productions
, picked up distribution rights to the film and hoped for it to achieve a Napoleon Dynamite
-like success. It premiered in 2006 at The Los Angeles Film Festival
and was screened at Sundance
that same year
. The film was released on DVD in 2008.
) is a fourth-degree black belt
in Taekwondo
and runs his own dojang in a small North Carolina town. Fred styles himself a big shot, driving a Ferrari
and extolling the virtues of Taekwondo to potential new students, but loses his confidence after he discovers that his wife, Suzie (Mary Jane Bostic) gave her boss a handjob after a drunken office party. In order to restore his confidence, he attends a martial arts expo
to meet his idol, B movie
action star Chuck "the Truck" Wallace (Ben Best
) who in reality turns out to be a dirty and drunken mess. After nearly brawling with Chuck's seedy friends, Fred persuades Chuck to make an appearance at his upcoming Taekwondo belt test and then parties with his friends and students in Chuck's hotel room. Fred returns home and sells his Ferrari to pay Chuck's $10,000 appearance fee. Shortly thereafter, Suzie returns to Fred after losing her job. On the night before the belt test, Fred catches Suzie having sex with Chuck on his own couch. Fred challenges Chuck to a fight, but is eventually beaten and driven off. The next morning, Suzie once again asks to be taken back, but Fred rejects her and urinates on his wedding ring. Fred arrives at the test late, battered and bruised, but with his confidence restored. When Chuck arrives for his appearance, Fred challenges him to a martial arts demonstration of board breaking
, which he wins. At the following belt ceremony, Fred reads a new student pledge that he has written, which outlines the goals and responsibilities of Taekwondo. (The pledge is actually the oath of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.)
All martial artists in the film, excluding McBride and Best, were played by true Taekwondo practitioners.
on February 26, 2008 as the character Fred Simmons. Many viewers were not familiar with either the character or the actor and as a result there was initially much speculation as to whether the seemingly disastrous Tae Kwon Do demonstration, during which Simmons asked for a "redo" after a failed block-splitting attempt - and awkward interview, during which he repeatedly lashed out at fellow guest Will Ferrell
for dancing around in a sexual nature during his interview segment earlier, were real or staged. Among the only immediate clues to suggest the interview was a setup was when the website for the film was flashed onscreen during the interview.
, based on 76 reviews. The website Metacritic
, which averages leading film critics from across the United States, gave the film a 63 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, which is considered "generally favorable."
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Jody Hill
Jody Hill
Jody Hill is an American film director and screenwriter from Concord, North Carolina. In 2006 he directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in his first film The Foot Fist Way, which he based on his experience as a Taekwondo black belt and instructor. His follow-up film, Observe and Report,...
and starring Danny R. McBride
Danny R. McBride
Daniel Richard "Danny" McBride is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist.-Career:...
. Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
and Adam McKay
Adam McKay
Adam McKay is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys....
's production company, Gary Sanchez Productions
Gary Sanchez Productions
Gary Sanchez Productions is a production company operated by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. They also founded the video site Funny or Die.It is named after supposed entrepreneur and financier Gary Sanchez, and is represented by Creative Artists Agency.-Film:...
, picked up distribution rights to the film and hoped for it to achieve a Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....
-like success. It premiered in 2006 at The Los Angeles Film Festival
Los Angeles Film Festival
The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times is an event held annually in June in downtown Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Film Festival began as the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 1995. The first LAIFF took place over the course of five days in a single...
and was screened at Sundance
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
that same year
2006 Sundance Film Festival
The 2006 Sundance Film Festival was held from 19 January to 29 January 2006. It was held in Park City, Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah; Ogden, Utah; and the Sundance Resort. It was the 22nd iteration of the Sundance Film Festival, and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the...
. The film was released on DVD in 2008.
Plot
Fred Simmons (Danny R. McBrideDanny R. McBride
Daniel Richard "Danny" McBride is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist.-Career:...
) is a fourth-degree black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
and runs his own dojang in a small North Carolina town. Fred styles himself a big shot, driving a Ferrari
Ferrari 308
The name, Ferrari 308, refers to a 3 liter 8-cylinder Ferrari sports car. There were two different Ferrari 308 models:* Ferrari GT4, a Bertone-styled 2+2 V8 successor to the Dino* Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS, a Pininfarina-styled 2-seat version of the GT4...
and extolling the virtues of Taekwondo to potential new students, but loses his confidence after he discovers that his wife, Suzie (Mary Jane Bostic) gave her boss a handjob after a drunken office party. In order to restore his confidence, he attends a martial arts expo
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
to meet his idol, B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
action star Chuck "the Truck" Wallace (Ben Best
Ben Best (actor)
Ben Best is an American screenwriter and actor. He is the co-creator and co-writer of the television show Eastbound & Down. He also co wrote the films The Foot Fist Way and Your Highness....
) who in reality turns out to be a dirty and drunken mess. After nearly brawling with Chuck's seedy friends, Fred persuades Chuck to make an appearance at his upcoming Taekwondo belt test and then parties with his friends and students in Chuck's hotel room. Fred returns home and sells his Ferrari to pay Chuck's $10,000 appearance fee. Shortly thereafter, Suzie returns to Fred after losing her job. On the night before the belt test, Fred catches Suzie having sex with Chuck on his own couch. Fred challenges Chuck to a fight, but is eventually beaten and driven off. The next morning, Suzie once again asks to be taken back, but Fred rejects her and urinates on his wedding ring. Fred arrives at the test late, battered and bruised, but with his confidence restored. When Chuck arrives for his appearance, Fred challenges him to a martial arts demonstration of board breaking
Breaking (martial arts)
Breaking is a martial arts technique that is used in competition, demonstration and testing. Breaking is an action where a martial artist uses a striking surface to break one or more objects using the skills honed in their art form. The striking surface is usually a hand or a foot, but may also be...
, which he wins. At the following belt ceremony, Fred reads a new student pledge that he has written, which outlines the goals and responsibilities of Taekwondo. (The pledge is actually the oath of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.)
Cast
- Danny R. McBrideDanny R. McBrideDaniel Richard "Danny" McBride is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist.-Career:...
as Fred Simmons, a black belt and instructor of Taekwondo in a small southern town. - Ben BestBen Best (actor)Ben Best is an American screenwriter and actor. He is the co-creator and co-writer of the television show Eastbound & Down. He also co wrote the films The Foot Fist Way and Your Highness....
as Chuck "The Truck" Wallace, a B movie action star. Best is also a member of the music band Pyramid, who supplied songs to the film's soundtrack. Other members of the band played bit parts as Chuck's friends at his party. - Mary Jane Bostic as Suzie Simmons, Fred's unfaithful, spandex-clad wife.
- Spencer Moreno as Julio, Fred's overweight adolescent second-in-command at the dojang.
- Carlos Lopez IV as Henry, a meek youth who finds self-confidence through Taekwondo.
- Jody HillJody HillJody Hill is an American film director and screenwriter from Concord, North Carolina. In 2006 he directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in his first film The Foot Fist Way, which he based on his experience as a Taekwondo black belt and instructor. His follow-up film, Observe and Report,...
as Mike McAlister, Fred's intense friend and fellow Taekwondo black belt.
All martial artists in the film, excluding McBride and Best, were played by true Taekwondo practitioners.
Promotion
Danny McBride appeared as a guest on Late Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
on February 26, 2008 as the character Fred Simmons. Many viewers were not familiar with either the character or the actor and as a result there was initially much speculation as to whether the seemingly disastrous Tae Kwon Do demonstration, during which Simmons asked for a "redo" after a failed block-splitting attempt - and awkward interview, during which he repeatedly lashed out at fellow guest Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
for dancing around in a sexual nature during his interview segment earlier, were real or staged. Among the only immediate clues to suggest the interview was a setup was when the website for the film was flashed onscreen during the interview.
Critical reception
Variety gave the film a fairly positive review stating that the film is "crying out to be discovered by midnight movie mavens". It currently holds a 57%, "Rotten" rating on review aggregator website Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 76 reviews. The website Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which averages leading film critics from across the United States, gave the film a 63 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, which is considered "generally favorable."