Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story [17]

Ben Stiller plays White Goodman, the owner of the super trendy and successful Globo gym. Vince Vaughn plays Peter LeFleur, the owner of the not so successful Average Joe’s gym (right next door to Globo gym). There is a sharp contrast between the two actors (Ben is 5’8” 140lb and Vince is 6’5” 203lb). White is the classic insecure short man and Peter is the classic confident tall man. White is very uptight and a type A personality. Peter is very relaxed and a type B personality. They both do a great job with their characters. White Goodman is one of Ben’s best characters.

Average Joe’s gym is $50,000 in debt and facing forclosure by bank employee Kate Veatch (A very lovely Christine Taylor). Christine is actually working for White because he wants to sieze the gym and build a parking ramp on the property. White’s attempts to woo Kate fail miserably. They have a very funny exchange in White’s office:

White Goodman: We should mate.
Kate Veatch: What?
White Goodman: Date! We should date some time. Socially. Go out and kick it.
Kate Veatch: [looks like she's choking]
White Goodman: Are you okay?
Kate Veatch: I'm fine. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

(Who hasn't had that happen to them? It was the first time I had ever seen it in a movie though.)

Average Joe nerdy workout guy, Gordon, (Steven Root) subscribes to Obscure Sports Quarterly. Gordon figures they can play in the Dodgeball tournament in Las Vegas and win the $50,000 prize to save the gym. Steven is one of my favorite character actors. He was great as Jimmy James in News Radio and was even funnier than Phil Hartman.

Of course, no one in the Average Joe’s gym is the least bit physically fit and coordinated. But somehow they learn to play Dodgeball. (A Bunch of losers learn A new sport, hilarity ensues.)

There is quite a bit of good comedy in this movie that make it worth renting. Several cameos really make for funny moments:

• Lance Armstrong manages to talks Peter back into competing in the dodgeball tournament.
• Chuck Norris has a small role as a celebrity judge.
• William Shatner is the “Dodgeball Chancellor” and MC of the tournament.
• David Hasselhoff appears as the coach of the German team, making fun of the fact that Germans go ga-ga over his Knight Rider and Baywatch shows.

Pick this one up, it may even be OK for young teens. {BB}

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: BB
29 Point Scale Score:    [17]

Related Link (IMDB): IMDB
Hits: 2110
Language: english