A former collegiate wrestler Scott Voss (Kevin James) is a 42-year-old apathetic biology teacher in a failing high school. When cutbacks threaten to cancel the music program and lay off its teacher (Henry Winkler,) Scott begins to raise money by moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter. Everyone thinks Scott is crazy - most of all the school nurse, Bella (Salma Hayek) - but in his quest, Scott gains something he never expected as he becomes a sensation that rallies the entire school. Boom ensues.

Kevin James as an MMA fighter.

Let that concept sink in for a moment.  Digest it.

Done?  OK, how does that sit with you?  Your answer will determine your tolerance level for Here Comes the Boom’s well-meaning, but fairly ridiculous premise.

Look, I don’t want to be too mean to the film because it tries hard, it’s extremely clean and family friendly, and it’s moderately funny.  James particularly does a good job in his role.  But it’s also overly silly, a little too schmaltzy, and predictably predictable.  It’s a film that relies too heavily on slapstick and gimmicks such as UFC legend Bas Rutten dancing around like a goofball.

I love a good Rocky story, but knowing the difficulty it takes just to get to the UFC kept me from buying into the film’s finale.  I just didn’t feel it was handled convincingly.  Warrior it is not.

I chuckled, I smiled, I rolled my eyes, and I shook my head in disbelief.  Is that range of emotions worth $10 a pop?  Not to me.  But I do applaud the film’s message, its dedication to family entertainment, and its heart.

It could’ve been worse.  It could’ve been called Here Comes the Honey Boom Boom and gone down a really dark path.

Rated PG, Here Comes the Boom contains only a couple of mild profanities - h**l and a**. Some of the MMA violence may be more than you want your children to handle, but there's not a lot of blood. There is, however, a vomiting scene and a scene that shows the butt crack of someone doing yoga.

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