 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (M)
Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
 Ben Stiller tries to get up close and personal with Christine Taylor.
Is Ben Stiller the hardest working actor in Hollywood or what? The guy churns out a comedy every few months, which is great news if you're a fan. Sure they're not all masterpieces, but that doesn't mean his films aren't entertaining.
And that's just what his latest production Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is - a fun way to spend 90 minutes. Don't go looking to be intellectually stimulated, because this tale doesn't give the little grey cells a major workout. It's made with one simple purpose in mind - to make you laugh. On that count, this wacky sports spoof succeeds brilliantly.
Stiller stars alongside previous collaborator Vince Vaughn, but this time it's Vince who gets to play the good guy. He plays laidback, all-round nice dude Peter La Fleur, owner of the run down gym Average Joes. His clientele - the few there are - aren't obsessed gym junkies with abs of steel and six-packs (except of the beer kind), they're like the name says... average. Well, actually they're a bunch of nerds and Average Joes is their second home. So news that Average Joes is to be taken over by obsessed fitness fanatic and Globo Gym owner White Goodman (Stiller) hits them hard. They need to raise $50,000 to save their gym and they need to raise it fast.
And what's the dodgiest way a bunch of losers can raise that kind of money legally? Playing dodgeball of course. Their salvation lies in Las Vegas where the national dodgeball championships are held. First prize: $50,000!
You don't have to be a genius to guess what happens. Sure it's a cliché, but everybody digs a lovable-loser-triumphing-over-the-bad-guy story. Ben Stiller is hilarious as the over-the-top White Goodman and so is Rip Torn as geriatric dodgeball legend Patches O'Houlihan. Also very good are Justine Long, Stephen Root, Joel Moore, Chris Williams and Alan Tudyk as the not-so-wild bunch of misfits who frequent Average Joes.
And starring as bank lawyer Kate Veatch is Stiller's real-life wife Christine Taylor. Surprisingly it's Vince Vaughn who puts in the least memorable performance. Wake up Vince!
Dodgeball won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're a Ben Stiller fan or you just want some no-brain, super silly laughs you won't be disappointed. And don't go dodging the credits. Hang in there right until the very end for more classic Stiller stupidity.
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