The Foot Fist Way (DVD, 2008, special edition)

The literal translation of "Tae Kwan Do," THE FOOT FIST WAY is a hilarious look at a suburban North Carolina strip mall martial arts school run by a bullying egotist (Danny McBride). Shot on the cheap (in just 19 days), the film uses its shortcomings to its advantage, keeping the action low, the kicks flying, the wood splintering, and getting all the minutiae of after-school karate class just right. Co-screenwriter/star McBride brings realistic gym coach qualities galore to his character, Mr. Simmons; the deadpan documentary tone is spot-on and there's a sense these students are actually learning this art as the movie goes on. McBride's writing partners play other Tae Kwan Do professionals: Ben Best is fun as the debauched action movie star rival, Chuck the Trucki; co-writer/director Jody Hill shows up in a hilarious bit as Simmons's mystical fifth-level blackbelt compadre. Mary-Jane Bostic is frighteningly vivid as the spandex-clad, habitually unfaithful Mrs. Simmons. Stylistically, this comedy has a lot in common with deadpan fly-on-the-wall mockumentaries like THE OFFICE and BORAT. Thematically, there are in-depth looks into issues of male maturity and bonding, so beloved of the Will Ferrell genre (Ferrell's company snatched it up after it rocked the house at Sundance). Be warned: though the movie is full of little kids, it earns its R-rating with disrespectful language and drugs/sex/violence-filled situations. The very cool prog rock score is by Pyramid.