The Quarantine Stream: ‘The Foot Fist Way’ Is Like ‘Cobra Kai’ For Sociopaths
By Ethan Anderton/Jan. 7, 2021 7:00 am EST
Adding to the hilarity are the oddball students under Fred’s tutelage, especially chubby, nine-year old Julio Chavez and lanky, teenage Henry Harrison, who simply don’t know that their instructor is a complete blowhard and tag along with him to seedy locations with awkward situations. There are big laughs from how Fred speaks to his young apprentices, simply because of how brash and inappropriate he is at all times. The deadpan responses and blank stares that all of Fred’s students have to his madness also provide plenty of hilarity. Things only get more interesting after we meet Chuck “The Truck” Wallace, a B-movie action star and Chuck Norris wannabe who Fred admires above anyone.
But of course, the biggest draw of The Foot Fist Way is Danny McBride. Though you may have experienced his trademark comedy schtick already in other movies and TV shows, this was the first time it was executed to its full potential. McBride is more raw here than in any future performances, and he makes for a raucously hilarious, delusional sociopath. Though McBride has played a similiar part many times since, here it feels much more grounded and less exaggerated. You feel like you could actually find this guy teaching karate in a mini mall in Texas, but you’ll be glad you only have to encounter him in this movie.
