Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Brilliant and hilarious dodgeball movie full of great scenes and hilarious moments. However, the film also teaches that friends always support you and that teamwork leads to even more difficult victories.

This is one of my favourite comedy films. It is straightforward and brisk in pacing. All the characters are memorable and there are plenty of unpredictable jokes and situations. All in all, a very entertaining film.

An archetypal (and purportedly true) underdog story, Dodgeball sees Vince Vaughn as lovable but apathetic gym owner Peter La Fleur, who, with his band of misfit customers, enters a national dodgeball tournament to try and win the $50,000 he needs to prevent his business from being acquired by corporate fitness freak White Goodman (Ben Stiller). The order of the day here is low-brow humour, with laughs derived from abject silliness, vulgarity and slapstick; thankfully, nearly all of the gags hit their target square in the face, meaning that even the most joyless of viewers will struggle to remain composed. Whether its the simple pleasure of seeing a person being hit in the knackers by a fast moving ball, the sight of an overweight cheerleader wearing no underwear falling ass down onto someone's face, or ridiculous lines of dialogue such as 'I've even seen a grown man satisfy a camel', Dodgeball is simply too daft not to enjoy.

Well what can I say? Hugely enjoyable, silly yes but manages to be enjoyable. Yes with a predictable story that occasionally loses its lustre and some flimsy gags and a number of clichés. But what makes it watchable is the hilarious script, the good-natured spirit of the film, likable and relateable characters and fun performances from Vince Vaughan(really cool in one of his better movies- and performances as well), Ben Stiller, Rip Torn and Hank Azaria with an amusing cameo from David Hasselhoff. The direction is also good, and the film is nice to look at with a cool soundtrack. Overall, not perfect but watchable and funny. 7/10 Bethany Cox

White Goodman (Ben Stiller) is a raging douche and owner of Globo Gym. Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn) is a slob and the owner of Average Joe's Gymnasium. Peter LaFleur needs $50,000 or else he'll lose his gym to Goodman. LaFleur and the slackers at his gym figure on winning a dodgeball tournament. Goodman forms his own team to stop LaFleur. This is a stupid comedy. It's the good kind of stupid. We're allowed to laugh at the stupidity. That's a gift in the comedy world. Ben Stiller goes way out there as the amped up physical fitness guru. He has a good scene pawing his real life wife Christine Taylor. Even the dodgeball scenes are great. This is great slapsticks.

I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in years. That's all I can really say about this movie. It's stupid, sure, but it's so hilarious, you don't care. I could not stop laughing. There are so many jokes in this movie, you don't even have a chance to rest before the next one comes along. Ben Stiller as the "evil" White Goodman -- it's a classic character that should go down in the annals of comedy greatness. The announcers for ESPN 8 "The Ocho" (Gary Cole and Jason Bateman) had me rolling in the aisles. Stephen Root is a comic genius as well, and Alan Tudyk as the random pirate (why? who cares!) was pure gold. Oh, and make sure you stay till the end of the credits... Ben Stiller does a routine that's absolutely hysterical.

When average Joe's gym, run by Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn) is under threat of take over by White Goodman (Ben Stiller), La Fleur and his gym members must raise $50,000 to save it. The only way to do it is Dodge Ball, and with the help of a seasoned professional, maybe they have a chance. Great characters, and a hilarious script make dodge ball a Hit, Ben Stiller's and Rip Torn's characters are particularly well written, but none of the characters fail to get a laugh, and there is a good blend of them on show. Definitely worth a look for anyone who fancies a laugh. It's not a classic, but it doesn't fail to entertain with it's slapstick style. 7/10