Dodgeball DVD Review:

Average Joe’s Gym is on the verge of going under and being taken over by archrivals Globo Gym but owner Peter La Fleur (Vaughn) and his loyal patrons are not going to give in without a fight. Avid obscure sports fan Gordon (Root) comes up with the answer, they enter the International Dodgeball Championships in Las Vegas and win the $50,000 first prize to save their beloved gym. Globo Gym owner White Goodman (Stiller) has other ideas and enters his own super-team to stop Average Joe’s at any cost.

The problem with sports films is that they are extremely predictable but Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story takes this point and deliberately rips into it.

All sports films are the same. You have you underdog team that has the potential to be winner because all they need is the right motivation for a reluctant coach. We’ve seen this so many times before in most sports movies that have come out of the Hollywood playing field. Dodgeball is exactly the same but it this is on purpose. This is a movie that takes the much-used sporting story structure and then pumps it full of comedic steroids.

While the story is the same as usual, underdog team of no hopers against a super team, writer/director Rawson Marshell and his cast deliberately uses this to parody every facet of the genre. Firstly, the Average Joe’s team is full of complete no hopers but they are taken to the extreme. One of them thinks he is a pirate, another wants to be a cheerleader to impress a girl and one is a fitness geek how just uses the gym to escape his family. These are not your average sports movie heroes and that is the film’s first plus point. Secondly, you have a season coach who will shape the team into a set of winners. In Patches O’Houlihan you have just the man for the job and again he uses extreme methods to get his points across. With expressions like “If you can dodge traffic you can dodge a Dodgeball”, Patches’ rigorous training scheme is a highlight. Thirdly, you have to have an unlikeable challenger and in Globo Gym Cobras leader White Goodman, you have just that. With the complete opposite philosophy to Average Joe’s, White Goodman and his Globo Gym team are suitably over the top and instantly boo-able.

Bringing these characters to life is an ensemble cast full of comedic flair. Vince Vaughn continues his return to form with another one of his deadpan performances. This is the Vince Vaughn that fans know and love, firing off one-liners and oozing coolness. Rip Torn is hilarious as Dodgeball veteran Patches O’Houlihan. His training methods are hysterically funny and some of his lines will have you crying with laughter. Christine Taylor should appear in more movies, as she is a real comedic talent. Besides from looking great, she has good comic timing and anyone who saw the Brady Bunch movies would concur with that. Ben Stiller almost steals the show however, as Globo Gym CEO White Goodman. This is Stiller at his over the top best, producing a character that you really despise. There is absolutely nothing to like about him making him a great villain.

Backing up the main leads is a first rate comedic ensemble and some very funny cameos. Justin Long, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Joel Moore and Chris Williams are very funny as the rest of the Average Joe’s team. Gary Cole and Jason Bateman are brilliant as the ESPN 8 anchormen and look out for scene stealing guest spots from the likes of Hank Azaria, William Shatner and quite a few more surprises.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is a sports film parody that hits you in the funny bone more times than it strikes out. There are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments and it is filled one-liners and gaffs a plenty to crack a smile on even the most harden face. This is a sports movie that has the balls to poke fun at a genre that takes it self far too seriously.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, this is an excellent transfer, as you’d except from a modern film. The picture quality is very good, capturing all the bright lights and razzmatazz of the Las Vegas tournament. The sound quality is also good with a strong emphasis on dialogue for the jokes and a good use of sound during the Dodgeball games.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber, actors Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn

It is becoming more and more common for a comedy film to have a jokey, unserious commentary track and ‘Dodgeball’ is no exception. For the first half of the movie, this is hysterical. Vince Vaughn constantly takes about the importance of his character while drinking beer and eating chips. Ben Stiller arrives ten minutes late and director Rawson Marshall Thurber can’t get a word and blows his top. This is great stuff and a real bonus for comedy fans but it only lasts for forty minutes or so and then a ‘Guest commentary’ takes over and the joke starts to wear a little thin.

Deleted and Extended Scenes (11.35 mins)

With optional commentary by writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber these ten deleted or extended scenes entitled ‘Cardio Cowboy’, ‘Gordon asks for a divorce/White Goodman metaphor speech’, ‘Justin and Amber see Derek before Cheerleading finals’, ‘The Dirty Sanchez’, ‘ Fran and Owen in Bed’, ‘Kate’s Porch’, ‘Justin and Amber kiss’, ‘Shame triangle’ ‘Three-way kiss’ and ‘Different ending with fat White Goodman (Pizza bagels are burning), could have been added back into the film as some of them are very funny.

Alternative Ending (1.18 mins)

With optional commentary by writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber, this is how he originally wanted the film to end.

Dodgeball Boot Camp: Training for Dodgeball (3.27 mins)

Stunt coordinator Alex Daniels and stars Vince Vaughn, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Christine Taylor and Chris Williams take you behind the scenes of the intensive Dodgeball training they had to go through.

The Anatomy of a Hit (3.25 mins)

Writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber and stars Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Justin Long and Stephen Root instruct you as to what the best type of hit for getting the biggest laughs.

Justin Long: A study in ham and cheese (3.25 mins)

A montage showing the physical comedy skills of Justin Long, as he gets pounded by dodgeballs

Dodgeball: Go for Gold (1.21 mins)

Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller push of Dodgeball to become an Olympic event.

More with the Dodgeball Dances (2.24 mins)

With an introduction by writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber, watch the Dodgeball Dancers in pink, blue and black underwear.

Bloopers/Gag Reel (2.54 mins)

A montage of gaffs and goofs as the cast blow their lines and breakout in fits of laugher.

Easter Egg (0.19)

Find some hidden footage of Justin Long and the girls.

Inside Look (1.46 mins)
White Goodman and Peter La Fleur talk about Dodgeball and what the game means to them.

Trailers

Previews of Robots, Sideways, Bride and Prejudice and The Clearing

OVERALL

For a Fox DVD this is a slight disappointment. The commentary track is extremely good but only for the first half of the movie and the featurettes are far too short and uninformative. The deleted scenes are entertaining however and the presentation of the movie is first rate but if you are a fan of the film, you could be slightly disappointed.

DVD Star Rating = * *

Jamie Kelwick

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