review: THE HAMMER

Weinstein Company/Genius Product  //  Buy from Amazon.com Jerry Ferro's life is brought into focus on his 40th birthday and it's not a pretty picture. A once-promising amateur boxer - who quit so he wouldn't risk his perfect record of underachievement - Jerry has been knocking around from one job to another and spinning his wheels in an unsatisfying relationship. After sparring with an up-and-coming pro and throwing him a one-punch knockdown, Jerry reluctantly steps into the ring and despite an ass-kicking, decides it's time to make his return to competitive boxing and go for Olympic gold! Adam Carolla is a fixture in my drive to work each morning, as I tune in to listen to him from 7:15 - 8:00 each day and more often than not I find myself howling with delight at the outlandish comments and antics that he unleashes on his co-hosts, his guests, or those brave few who call in. He's not a man who minces words, but there's clearly some intelligence behind his razor-sharp tongue, which of course makes for perfect drive-time radio. Well, he's also an actor, and he put together a semi-autobiographical flick called "The Hammer" that graced theaters earlier this year... and I'm proud to say that this is one film that I actively sought out to support while it was IN theaters (driving all the way across town to the lone cineplex playing this gem.) I really enjoyed it - I knew I would, given my fondness for Carolla's wit and bravado, but what I didn't expect was the sincere, genuine charm that the film had. It definitely captures the whole indie vibe, as this is definitely not a polished glossy-Hollywood production. Instead, it has heart, hutzpa and healthy doses of real-world believability (something you don't often find in films these days.) Thoroughly enjoyable, plenty funny, and heart-warming to boot, this one's a gem that you're bound to enjoy. Trust me. Video The anamorphic widescreen transfer delivers a decent presentation - clearly this is a low-budget indie flick (so don't expect razor-sharp visuals), but it's more than adequate. Audio The included Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix is clean & solid throughout. Extras audio commentary w/ Carolla & screenwriter outtakes extended & deleted scenes conversation w/ Adam & Ozzie behind-the-scenes promos photo gallery trailers Closing Thoughts Indie film with heart + lots of entertaining extras = well worth checking out, whether you're looking for laughs or a bit of "Rudy"-style dramatics