The Hammer

As comfortingly bland and fleetingly satisfying as Velveeta, this budget-challenged sports comedy lands most of the punch lines it throws. The Hammer is essentially a showcase for the pugilistic skills and incessant one-liners of its leading man–executive producer, Adam Carolla, playing a low-rent Southland Rocky Balboa who takes a long shot at the Olympic boxing competition. Alas, it’s still a man show: The likable Carolla—somehow resembling both Garry Shandling and Mike Connors—has zero chemistry with love interest Heather Juergensen, who seems repelled.