The Foot Fist Way

The Foot Fist Way is a 2006 American low-budget indie comedy film that appropriately marks the debut of a group of talented writers and actors who would later become household names. Directed by Jody Hill and written by Hill, Danny McBride, and Ben Best, the movie simultaneously satirizes and pays homage to the classic low-budget 1980s martial arts films and the oftentimes absurd machismo involved in that world.

The movie is largely centred around Fred Simmons, a taekwondo instructor in a small town, brought to life memorably by Danny McBride in his first leading role. Fred has an oversized ego that far exceeds his rather limited talents. What’s more, it's clear that his self-worth is tied largely into his identity as a martial arts instructor, despite the obvious mediocrity of his small-town dojo and student body.

Fred's shallow and puffed-up world begins to crumble when he discovers that his wife, Suzie, played by Mary Jane Bostic, has been unfaithful. The impact of this revelation throws Simmons into a midlife crisis of sorts, and he resorts to some hilariously misguided attempts at damage control. This descent sees him confronting his hero, noted B movie martial arts superstar Chuck “The Truck” Wallace played by co-writer Ben Best, whose real-life persona hardly matches up to his silver screen image.

What makes The Foot Fist Way even more amusing is the terrible advice Fred so confidently gives his students and the painfully awkward situations he often finds himself in. These moments are delivered expertly by McBride, whose stilted and yet oddly sincere performance lends itself perfectly to the character. Fred Simmons is a character entirely comfortable in his delusions of grandeur and vehemently resistant to facing reality, which gives the audience many cringe-inducing moments to laugh at.

The Foot Fist Way is a classic underdog story, reminiscent of the anti-hero tales of the 1980s where overconfident leading men find themselves way out of their depths in hilarious ways. However, it adds its own flavour by also lampooning the ‘never give up’ messages found in classic sports and martial arts films. It's less about the sport and more about the character of Fred Simmons, who is such an over-the-top caricature of masculinity that he becomes the butt of the joke rather than the hero of the story.

The Foot Fist Way manages to be a comedy at the expense of martial arts films, while also managing not to take itself too seriously as a comedy. The movie relishes the absurdity of its characters and their situations, yet also seems to find a strange sort of respect for them as well. It revels in embarrassment comedy, poking fun at arrogance, delusion, and machismo, and imbues its characters and their interactions with a sort of off-beat charm that’s hard not to get behind.

This film, shot in a veérité style that lends a certain unfiltered realism to the story, is crafted with attention to detail, making even the most ridiculous moments feel genuine. The very nature of the film’s premise invites a plethora of comedic moments, enhanced by the film’s witty and sarcastic dialogue. All the performances are just exaggerated enough to add to the comedy without crossing into slapstick territory, especially McBride who really dives headfirst into the role, embodying all of Fred’s quirks and shortcomings perfectly.

The Foot Fist Way serves up a comedic look at a low-tier part of American culture that rarely gets the spotlight, i.e., the community of small-town Taekwondo dojos. Yet underneath all of the film’s laughter and jokes, The Foot Fist Way is a story about a man dealing with his illusions being irrevocably shattered and attempting to rebuild his self-esteem from scratch. This adds a layer of depth to the humor and keeps the audience invested in the character of Fred Simmons, despite his many obvious and glaring flaws.

Given the initial low budget nature of the film, it still turned out to be a rough gem that not only showed to the world the birth of a new comedy collective but also served as a springboard for careers that would continue to delight audiences. The Foot Fist Way takes well-worn comedic and action tropes and breathes new life into them, delivering an unexpectedly hilarious story about misfits pursuing some strange version of the American dream. It's ultimately a must-watch for any fan of quirky independent films and comedy alike.