ranters and ravers

That Guy From ‘Balls of Fury’ Looks Like Other Hairy Dudes

We think he’s very handsome.Photo: Getty Images

This weekend heralds the arrival of Balls of Fury, a chop-sockyesque ping-pong comedy featuring Christopher Walken as a campy villain and starring Dan Fogler, best known for his Tony-winning performance in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It’s yet to be seen whether Fogler can become Hollywood’s next fat-boy funnyman, but one thing is for sure: Critics love comparing this guy to other overweight, unattractive actors. —Adam Leon

“Dan Fogler, looking like the love child of Jack Black and the pornographic-film star Ron Jeremy…” —A.O. Scott, New York Times

“As Daytona, Dan Fogler looks like the illegitimate son Sam Kinison never (?) had. It’s hard to say which sticks out farther: Fogler’s belly or his frizzy hair.” —Mark Feeney, Boston Globe

“The actor Fogler most reminds me of, though, is Curtis Armstrong, that shit-eating-grinned junior hustler from Revenge of the Nerds and Risky Business.” —Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

“Sort of a cross between Jack Black and Meatloaf, the actor totally makes Balls of Fury’s campiness work.” Hollywood.com

“In his first leading role for the big screen, Fogler, a Tony Award–winning actor, can best be described as … a cross between Jack Black and Richard Simmons.” —Nathan Lee, Village Voice

“Dan Fogler, looking like a younger, fatter Curtis Armstrong, stars as Randy Daytona, a disgraced Olympian, lowered to working as a sleazy Reno lounge act.” —Andy Klien, Los Angeles City Beat

Earlier: ‘Balls of Fury’’s Dan Fogler Talks Theater, Balls
Related: Prodigy: Dan Fogler [NYM]

That Guy From ‘Balls of Fury’ Looks Like Other Hairy Dudes