Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

by Steven Mozug

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is one of those dumb as rocks comedy that should come with fine print warning for loss of brain cells, though it is funny and enjoyable which will keep moviegoers in their seats. Thanks should be given for Ben Stiller for his portrayal as an idiot gym trainer who seems to have lost all his intelligence with his weight. His massive money making gym; with the motto "Were better than you are, and we know it" is the first sign the movie is achieving the art of stupid comedy. Vince Vaughn is the bankrupt owner of Average Joe's which is the exact opposite of the fancy gym kiddy corner from them. The group is made up of sad misfits who remind you of other comic characters from previous movies (best is Justin Long's performance as the geeky high schooler striving to be a cheerleader, though he's played this bit before, Warren Chesswick anybody?) Early on Ben Stiller's attempts to buy out Average Joe's, and only way to pay off the money is for the losers to get $50,000 in less than a month. (classic setup) After the misfits raise no money in a great bootylicious car wash scene, they enter the game of dodgeball. The game creates good laughs since no director has ever thought this up. (or ever had the balls to make a movie about dodgeball) After defeating girl scouts on a steroid stipulation, Vaughn's troops are guided by some idiot trainer (don't worry, you'll forget all the characters names too) who throws wrenches at the face and hits the men in the crotch. If seeing this still makes you laugh, and you enjoy the love ending where Christine Taylor's character shouts "I'm not lesbian, I'm bisexual" then by all means see this stupid film. Add in crazy tournament teams and random cameos (William Shatner, Lance Armstrong, Chuck Norris, and best of all Jason Bateman as the clueless announcer) and voila, you have the script for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Despite this the movie keeps the viewer entertained and is an enjoyable comedy probably because it moves at brisk pace and there hasn't been any other dodgeball films. If you're asking for more intelligence in your comedy, you will have to look elsewhere. Though seeing Ben Stiller getting blasted in the face is definitely worthy the price of admission.

2 out of 4 stars