Genre: Comedy, Sports, Suspense
Tagline: A true underdog story.
Plot: Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn), is a charismatic underachiever and proprietor of a rundown gym called Average Joe’s. The facility’s clientele of decidedly less-than-“average Joes” is made up of a self-styled pirate, a scrawny nerd who dreams of impressing an unattainable cheerleader, an obsessive aficionado of obscure sports, a dim-witted young man, and a cocky know-it-all who, of course, really knows nothing.Peter’s humble gym catches the eye of White Goodman (Ben Stiller), the power-mullet-sporting, Fu-Manchu-d, egomaniacal owner of Globo Gym, a gleaming monolith of fitness. White intends to take over Average Joe’s, and Peter’s non-existent bookkeeping is making it all too easy for him. A foreclosing bank has stationed attorney Kate Veatch (Christine Taylor) inside Average Joe’s to finalize Globo’s takeover of the gym. But Peter’s boyish charms win her over and Kate joins his team of social rejects to beat the odds – and their own ineptitude – to try to save Average Joe’s. How? A showdown dodgeball competition against Globo
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 Sure, it's dumb as a hard rubber ball, but this Ben Stiller comedy about the sport that traumatized us all is strangely exhilarating.--Stephanie Zacharek (Salon)
A fun night out, offering the right quantity of chuckles and full-hearted laughs. B--Lee Tistaert (Lee's Movie Info)
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story had the makings to be the type of movie I would appreciate, but when the credits began to roll, I found myself disappointed and wanting a little bit more. 5/10--Tom Blain (JackassCritics.com)
'Dodgeball' is undoubtedly one of the stupidest films that you’re likely to see, and not only with regard to the subject matter, but its execution – think of the classic Simpsons short film “Football in the Groin” extended to full length.--Greg Ursic (Movie-Gurus.com)
Dodgeball is a lowbrow endeavor that probably will upset the more politically correct viewers, or those who dislike anything but the most sophisticated of comedies. However, for less discriminating viewers, Thurber concoction should hit the right spot --the funny bone, most likely.  --Vince Leo (Qwipster.net)
Seeing someone get hit in the groin, or in the face, with a big red ball, knocked down by cars, or clunked on the head by flying wrenches is not to everyone's taste. But the good-natured humor writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber employs, and the sweet characters this movie is peopled by, makes it work.  --Blake Snyder (MovieWeb)
This is the cinematic equivalent of standing by a patch of ice on the sidewalk, and just watching people slip on it. You know you shouldn't laugh, but you just can't help it...  --Brian Gallagher (MovieWeb)
Stiller and Vaughn are nowhere near as hilarious as they usually are because the script won’t allow for such. The two are confined to using brain-dead, palindromic lines of dialogue, finding little room for creativity in their deliveries.  --Danny Baldwin (BucketReviews.com)
DODGEBALL has the touch of inspired inanity, the sort that spawns cult followings. If only it could have maintained the good stuff throughout. Then again, maybe some of would have seriously busted a gut if it had. --Andrea Chase (Killer Movie Reviews)
It all works as a parody of sports flicks, too, right down to the crusty old legend who comes on as the team's coach. B--Eric D. Snider (EricDSnider.com)
For me, I got some laughs, enjoyed some of the characters, as well as the actual games of dodgeball, but ultimately, the film just didn't provide enough consistent humor, drive or memorable sequences to heartily recommend it to one and all. This is no ZOOLANDER, folks. 5/10--'JoBlo' (JoBlo.com)
“Dodgeball” is silly, outlandish, and an all-around good time at the movies. Blessed with a remarkable comedic cast and set in the arena of the world’s goofiest game, the film is a treat to watch. A---Brian Orndorf (FilmJerk.com)
Crude, daft and hilarious, DodgeBall is the best mainstream American comedy in years. --Nev Pierce (BBC Films)
Since comedy is the most subjective of all the genres, your own giggle mileage may of course vary. But speaking as a guy who's grown more than a little weary of the formula fare, "Dodgeball" is a crazy, colorful and effortlessly funny film.  --Scott Weinberg (eFilmCritic.com)
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| Cast |
Vince Vaughn
Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Wedding Crashers |
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 | Ben Stiller
There's Something About Mary, The Royal Tenenbaums, Meet the Parents |
 | Rip Torn
Men in Black, The Insider, Men in Black II |
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| "Dodgeball" has enough quality material to place it into that transcendent comedy cult canon of oft-quotable-for-every-occasion lines, few movies can achieve this status, but this film will get funnier with each viewing – I’m sure of it. --Josh Gryniewicz (eFilmCritic.com)
"Dodgeball" is a lowest-common denominator movie, but in the good sense (adding fractions, rather than subtracting them). Its jokes are broad, but well-executed. It aims for the very biggest, most primal laughs it can, and for the most part hits its target. --Jay Seaver (eFilmCritic.com)
The Dodgeball matches are fun without getting terribly exciting. The average match seems to last under three minutes and the network coverage probably lasts just a bit longer than a Lakers/Pistons series. Wokka! What the film isn’t short on is laughs andit has all the checkmarks of a classic in the making. --Erik Childress (eFilmCritic.com)
"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" isn't a true story nor is it about the underdog team, and it isn't perfect, but who cares? It's a comedy made in 2004 that actually made me laugh and laugh hard, and that alone is a feat in itself. If it works, it works. --Jason Whyte (eFilmCritic.com)
Frequently amusing comedy with some great sight gags and strong comic performances from Ben Stiller and Rip Torn, despite an occasionally lazy script. --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon)
Some may see this movie as the second-coming since Ace Ventura, but if you’re lucky, the movie will give you a handful of guffaws and maybe a chuckle, but dumb humor and lifeless plot sucks the fun out of it all.  --Lynda Lin (The Movie Insider)
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