This is why my leader was on Dancing with the Stars. He was on to promote this movie, which was in limited release (mostly just the cities his morning drive-time radio show can be heard).

I have to admit I was a little worried about the quality of this movie. Although it got great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and Ebert & Roeper gave it Two Thumbs Up, I\’ve seen The Man Show. Adam Carolla, while fantastic on the radio ranting about everyday annoyances, he\’s a stiff on camera.

Well, he\’s improved a little. But no one will mistake him for Alec Baldwin when it comes to great comedic acting.

But despite his limited acting ability, this is still a funny, sweet romantic comedy. That\’s right. I said romantic comedy.

This is the semi-autobiographical story of Jerry Ferro (Carolla) who, on his 40th birthday loses both his job and his girlfriend. While coaching a boxing class at a local gym, he finds his way out of rock bottom. He meets a new woman and he begins working his way up the armature ranks to make the US Olympic boxing team. OK, maybe a little unbelievable. But he\’s got a really good left.

By the way, it was while working as a boxing instructor at the gym this movie was filmed (where he was also a handyman) that Adam met Jimmy Kimmel. From that meeting he would go on to host Loveline and The Man Show and is now, as he\’ll tell you often, literally a millionaire.

In a world of craphole movies like Don\’t Mess with the Zohan and The Love Guru, why couldn\’t a movie like this get a wider release? It may not rise to the level of a Sideways, Juno or Little Miss Sunshine. But it is still a worthy indie comedy.

• 0 breasts
• 1 beast
• belt-sander fu
• Nicaraguan punch-in-the-nuts fu

Academy award nomination for Oswaldo Castillo for playing the very difficult role of himself.

King Wally says check it out. I bought the DVD, so if anyone wants to borrow it, let me know.

B+

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4kIXXCSwt8&hl=en&w=425&h=344]