Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story DVD Review

"DODGEBALL - A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY" reviews

DVD

DODGEBALL - A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-26 11:16:33

Provider

DVD Review

Right now, the loose comedic alliance of Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn et al can do no wrong. Zoolander, The Royal Tenenbaums, Meet The Parents, Elf, Starsky & Hutch and co are all shining examples of that rare event: side-splitting gags and artistic bravura coming together in one film.

To that list you can add Dodgeball. Starring Stiller (who also co-produced) and Vaughn from the aforementioned list of screwball actors, the movie's subtitle tells you everything you need to know about this generous flick.

Peter La Fleur (Vaughn) owns Average Joe's gymnasium - a training emporium for misfits of every conceivable hue. Across the road White Goodman's hyper-modern Globo chain is fuelling society's narcissistic fascination with the body beautiful. Crippled by debt, Average Joe's only chance of fending off Globo's advances is by winning the National DodgeBall games in Las Vegas.

At turns hilariously off the wall and uncannily thoughtful, the narrative is signposted and unsubtle, but a fine ensemble cast - supplemented by Christine Taylor, Hank Azaria and the magnificent Rip Torn - turn Dodgeball into one of the funniest films of recent times.