The Hammer by Weinstein Company

Actors

• Adam Carolla
• Oswaldo Castillo
• Heather Juergensen
• Tom Quinn
• Harold “House” Moore

Format

• Color
• Subtitled
• Widescreen
• NTSC

Editorial Review

No, The Hammer is not the Fred Williamson story, but a surprisingly satisfying underdog sports movie and date movie; an unlikely genre combination, but The Hammer nails it. Adam Carolla, former co-host of The Man Show, stars as underachiever Jerry, just turned 40. A former Golden Gloves boxer (as was Carolla), he works as a construction worker/handyman and also teaches the sweet science at the local gym. You know the drill: Jerry gets fired after running afoul of his abusive boss; Jerry loses fed-up girlfriend; Jerry meets Lindsay (Heather Jurgensen), an idealistic public defender; Jerry impresses a coach and gets the chance to try out for the Olympic boxing team. But a deft touch makes The Hammer a contender. This is Carolla's first bout with leading man status, and, happily, he has the director of the “I Kissed a Girl” arthouse hit, Kissing Jessica Stein in his corner. The script makes effective use of Carolla's unpretentious screen presence, giving him ample opportunity to punch out some droll comic riffs while he pursues his second chance in the ring as well as Lindsay. Add to the mix a grudging friendship he develops with a cocky boxer whom the coach is grooming. The Hammer may not technically be a knockout, but it does go the distance. –Donald Liebenson