DODGEBALL - A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY

Are you the type of person that really enjoys sports? You know, the type who trains every day. Obsesses over history and stats. Plus generally envelop yourself in the whole minutia that your designated nom de plum grants you with. Well, if so: good on you buddy. If not: don't you worry, as I'm sure you will still enjoy this movie Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber; and Starring: Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, and Rip Torn. It was made in 2004, and lasts for 92 minutes.


Dodgeball


THE STORY:
Now without beating about the bush -- THWAK! -- Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn) and White Goodman (Ben Stiller) are two rival gym owners, who are currently at complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

You see, whereas Whites' gym is a sleek looking and a profitable organisation. Pete’s gym, on the other hand, is a run down shack that is in dire need of some cash injection -- fifty thousand dollars to be precise -- so that he can pay the person who own it's lease... White.

OK. I know what you are wondering to yourself. 'How can Pete raise that sort of money within the one month time span he has available'. What's that? A Car Wash? Ha! Don't make me laugh. That won't work. Why doesn't Peter get involved in a Dodgeball competition with his gym pals instead? As that will grant the winner just the right amount of money for Pete to buy back his gym.

Huh? What's that you say again? Pete and his pals can't play Dodgeball? Nah. Don't you worry. I'm sure that after he and the guys luckily qualify for this tournament, he'll meet up with an old hand at this game -- Patches O'Houlihan (Rip Torn) -- who will offers them his services so they can compete. Furthermore, when Whites pretty acquisition's gal -- Kate Veatch (Christine Taylor) -- tells White to f*ck off, she'll be more than willing to join Pete’s team as well.

Still, that's most probably why what next transpires all kicks off when White assembles a super-fast Dodgeball team of his own. As matches fly by - a competition lets out a sigh - Chuck Norris shows his face - and at the end of the day losing is by no means a terrible disgrace.

THE REVIEW:

OK, I have to admit, 'Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story' is a really fun and light film to watch. Granted, it's no ‘Schindler's List’ or ‘The Green Mile’. But what it is, is ninety minutes of silly sports, packed to the hilt with jovial, buffoonish, and over the top behavior, that is a laugh riot from end to end. Moreover, as with other film in this ilk, it tells a simple story that is laced with characters and subplots - some of which work, and some which don't.

Moreover, I have to also mention that all the actors involved -- and I do mean all -- really do lend themselves to this film as well. For example, Vaughn play’s the fast-talking wise guy (as always). Ben plays a type of Scooby-Doo villain (which was nice). Justin is the naïve kid (like Mr. Beans' nephew). Rip is the sensei (and a good one too). Stephen is the downtrodden husband (played to a tea). Joel is the idiot (bless him). Alan is the pirate (ohh arrr). Plus Christine is every boy's wet dream (ogga-ogga). Honestly, in its entirety, this is a great cast of actors, all of which do their best with their respective parts (no innuendo implied).

Normally, it is at this point in my review, where I try to turn it around, and then elaborate on what's wrong with this film. However, the problem with me doing this now, is that although this film does have a number of lagging parts, in essence, it does not really matter all that much within the scheme of things.

Admittedly, I would have liked to have seen more of the supporting players, plus it did annoy me when the course of the film took a rapid left turn at a vital juncture of the story too. But you have to remember that this is a formulaic film, and states as such throughout it.

Yeah. It doesn't try to hide the fact that the good guys will eventually win over the bad guys. And it doesn't try to be something that it is not either. That is what saves this film from being another run of the mill sports comedy, thus making it an enjoyable watch, and just something that you cannot dodge (pun intentional). Well,  don't you agree YouTube clip?

That was a 'yes' in case you were wondering.

THE RATING: B+