Here Comes the Boom 2012

James Rocchi, MSN Movies: 'Here Comes the Boom' is enjoyable -- or, at the very least, not torture like 'Grown Ups' ... Read more

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: A moderately enjoyable, nontaxing sort of comedy. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: For a film dedicated to time-tested formula and clumsily cross-pollinating Rocky and Mr. Holland's Opus, Here Comes The Boom is hilariously convoluted and inefficient in its storytelling. Read more

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: The film would have the same audience that came to see James get elbowed in the face also get weepy over disadvantaged schoolchildren. Read more

Janice Page, Boston Globe: [It] delivers repeated blows - to the abdomen, to the head, and to the groin, but not often enough to the funny bone. Read more

Amy Nicholson, Boxoffice Magazine: 'Rocky' for fifth graders, with enough pro-school propaganda to make parents think it's worth the price of popcorn Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Once it gets going and commits to its time-worn inspirational formula, it's not half-bad. Read more

Adam Graham, Detroit News: "Here Comes the Boom" is so full of cliches from other, better movies that it is almost plays like a parody of an underdog tale. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Film.com: It's nice that the hero goes to the mat for what he believes in. But he's not the only thing that comes down with a thud. Read more

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: The film works hard at its inoffensiveness. Throughout, jokes are left on the table, setups never pay off in any significant way. Read more

Frank Lovece, Newsday: Why doesn't most of this movie take place in a coma ward? Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: "Here Comes the Boom" is all banality, though it delivers some goodwill even as it pulls a muscle trying to get its premise going. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: "Here Comes the Boom'' is low on raunch but even lower on laughs. It also looks like half the lighting crew failed to show up. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Weak humor and vanilla plotting have replaced legitimate drama, pathos, and character development. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Cage fighting is not inherently funny. In fact, it's the opposite of funny, something like cock fighting only with people, and this presents a problem the movie never completely overcomes. Read more

David Germain, Associated Press: When [James] starts winning some bouts and becoming a contender, the movie's credibility skyrockets into "Rocky" territory and beyond. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Loud, incoherent and unfunny, "Here Comes the Boom" is the sound of American culture imploding. Read more

Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail: Here Comes the Boom will probably connect like a haymaker with most of its intended audience. The leads are likeable, and the plot, though beyond incredible, is at the very least distracting. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: It delivers exactly what's expected from a flabby mishmash of high school inspirational tale and Mixed Martial Arts fighting exhibitionism ladled out by Adam Sandler running mate Frank Coraci ... Read more

Scott Bowles, USA Today: Here Comes the Boom telegraphs every punch in its arsenal, but when the comedy connects, it can deliver with funny force. Read more

John Anderson, Variety: The overall tenor is clangorously discordant. Read more

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: Call it Waiting for Superman Punch. Read more

Sean O'Connell, Washington Post: For the most part, "Boom" lazily follows Adam Sandler's proven recipe for box-office success. Read more