GO BALL DEEP !
Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn - Starsky & Hutch ) is your average joe and that's exactly what he's called his gym. 'Average Joe's' happens to be a thorn in the side of slimy self made White Goodman (Ben Stiller - Starsky & Hutch ) who would like to see it replaced by a car park for his state of the art Globo Gym 'we're better than you and we know it' fitness corporation. Lawyers are called in and eviction papers served. All that's needed to save the day is $50,000 !
The Average Joes
The misfits that go to Average Joe's see this as a threat to their very existence and after a brief but futile car wash campaign they turn to the hallowed pages of O.S.Q (Obscure Sports Quarterly) which has just announced the championships of Dodgeball in Las Vegas and a handsome cash prize of the aforementioned $50,000 ! All that's needed is to win a State qualifier first.This sets the scene for brilliant comic book antics as our virgin Dodgeball team are up against the local girl guides ! These little girls know how to play, and things get nasty but our guys get through on a technicality (watch to find out what). On the sidelines of the game is Patches O'Houlihan (Rip Torn in excellent form - Men in Black ). A Dodgeball veteran and possibly the greatest who ever lived life by the balls. Could he be a coach for our lucky team ?
The team are put through their paces by Patches and the 5D's (Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, Dodge). His motto of 'if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball' is literally dealt out in wincing form. It's here that Justin Long (Galaxy Quest , Jeepers Creepers ) has another class comic moment.
The Purple Cobras
Goodman is getting more manic and desperate to get La Fleur out. So inbetween bouts of using electricity on his nipples and pizza down his cod piece inflated shorts he enters his own team into the competition (The Purple Cobras) and you know it's just a matter of time before the David and Goliath showdown but this does not spoil the fun. There are moments of comic brilliance as we go through the heats and see off the likes of the German National side, with David Hasselhoff coaching, walk away beaten from an S&M fashioned side.The supporting cast and cameos seem endless as Hank Azaria, William Shatner, Lance Armstrong, Gary Cole, Jason Bateman strut their stuff and even Chuck Norris gets to save the day.
The DVD is packed with goodies too. First off there is a hoot of a commentary from first time director Rawson Marshall Thurber, Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller. Or try finding the easter egg of Thurber without the guys for a more wholesome and film-orientated commentary.
There's also a batch of deleted scenes with optional commentary, and some easter eggs in those menus too. One of these scenes is now included in the movie as the DVD has been slightly extended from the theatrical print.
The alternative ending is such a joy that they dropped it, it would have been so wrong and out of synch with what had gone before.... a good choice from the studio here.
Vince Vaughn
Ben Stiller
The featurettes (and more easter eggs, so keep looking) are short but fun and it's great to see one for Justin Long's comic timing. For guys there's also some extended Dodgeball dancers routines !
Last but not least is a little gag reel and a first look which takes a look at 'Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story', but does so with a straight face and tongue firmly in cheek.
This is great easy-going fun but a few of the one-liners should keep it away from the eyes and ears of the little ones. All in all perfect for a guys' night in !
And keep watching right on through the end credits for Stiller and Kelis's Milkshake. A joy.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story