Page 1 of Dodgeball: A true underdog story

I actually downloaded this film whilst knowing very little about it, apart from a small clip which featured Justin Long getting smacked in the head by dodgeballs for 5 minutes. Sold.

Vince vaughn plays Peter LaFleur, who owns Average Joes, a seldom used gym that`s going under faster than Halle Berry`s credibility. In a desperate attempt to save their gym from being sold to Ben Stiller next door (more on him later), the faithful customers of the gym gang together and sign up for the national Dodgeball championships.

If you`ve seen any movie which features championships (major league, bring it on...) you`ll probably guess how this one works. But even with this air of predictability, it`s still a cracker of a movie, and like Nay says, every scene will have you laughing.

Ben Stiller is fantastic as White Goodman, the owner of Globogym. He plays a brilliant conglomeration of every jock/bully/w***er from every film of this ilk you`ve ever seen.

A character of particular mention is Alan Tudyk as Steve the Pirate. This character makes NO F***ING SENSE WHATSOEVER. But he`s brilliant, and I can`t help but think the film would be worse without him. Garrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Vince`s deadpan portrayal of his role is spot on. The way he delivers the majority of his lines just wouldn`t work if he played it for laughs. "you guys had me at blood & semen"

Throw in some suprising cameos (Bill Shatner, Chuck Norris, Hank Azaria & Lance Armstrong) and a genuinely funny script, and you`ve got a rare thing. A film that is fun to watch. Many `comedies` these days try too hard to just be straight out `wacky/zany` (scary movie springs to mind) but this one tickles your funny bone by being plain ol` entertaining.

Finally, I have to mention the performances of Gary Cole & Jason Bateman as the Dodgeball tournament Commentators. I hope there`s a sequel in the works just so these 2 can come back.

As for the romance angle. I really don`t think this film needed one. There IS one, but it`s very slight and it`s more of a friendship-becoming-attraction thing.

As for the focus of the film, the noble sport of dodgeball itself, tt`s explained very well for the layman, and it comes across as actually being quite a fun & exciting sport. (albeit degrading and exclusionary)

If I had to give a score, it`d only lose points for Missi Pyle`s teeth.

4.23597/5

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My Collection

This item was edited on Friday, 6th August 2004, 23:54

Been looking forward to this for a while now, glad to hear its not a pile of crap :D

Dodgeball and Anchorman look like two of the funniest films of the year.

I`ve got tickets for a preview screening at our local Vue cinema next wednesday night. Nice to know it`s worth going to (got vouchers in my email to exchange for tickets - they do send some good stuff among the junk...lol) :)

let me know when you guys have seen it. I`ve got a query about one of the final scenes..

Stay after the credits. There`s another bit at the end, apparently


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I ate what?


My Collection

Quote:
I actually downloaded this film whilst knowing very little about it, apart from a small clip which featured Justin Long getting smacked in the head by dodgeballs for 5 minutes. Sold.

I would have said "Stolen", but anyway... :p

possibly, but I`m still going to buy the DVD, so they`ll get my cash anyway...

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My Collection

I f***in hate Ben Stiller, and when I saw the trailer and it lookscrap. There`s a film called BASEketball and that is funny, and very similar to dodgeball.

floyd


DVD collection & WANTED list

I really like South Park, but BASEketball wasn`t that great in my opinion. This looks much better from the trailer I saw last night, just hope they didn`t put all the best bits in it.

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Quote:
just hope they didn`t put all the best bits in it

They could have, if the trailer was an hour long...

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I ate what?


My Collection

im normally quite selective with comedys as i think most are crap, but this movie is hilarious. i actually laughed out loud...