3 Questions With Kevin James

Street: In the film, you play a high school teacher who decides to become a mixed martial arts fighter to save the school’s music program. What was it like training for such a physically demanding role?
KJ: It was tough, I gotta be honest. It was hard. I had to change up my diet. I worked out like three times a day with professional fighters. It was good. I got a lot of lumps from it, but ultimately, we needed it for the believability of the fight scenes.

Street: You co–wrote, produced and starred in the film. To what extent was it your brainchild?
Kevin James: It was mine. I’ve always had a passion for showing this ultimate fighting in a different light. It seems so brash to some people. And using it as a means of showing that this guy will sacrifice anything for his friendship and his school.

Street: What can viewers, specifically students, expect from the film?
KJ: I think they can expect a boatload of comedy. It’s different comedy than what I’ve done. It’s not, maybe, as juvenile as “Paul Blart.” It’s more organic comedy in the situation, but it’s a big, funny, inspirational movie that I think everybody’s gonna love.