Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story [Unrated]

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber Rawson Marshall Thurber

Overview

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story revolves around amiable underachiever Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn), whose rundown gym, Average Joe's, is populated by a less-than-average clientele including a self-styled pirate, an ultra-obscure sports aficionado, and a pining high school nerd. It soon becomes apparent that Joe's is in financial trouble and will soon be foreclosed by attractive attorney Kate Veach (Christine Taylor) - unless Peter can cough up $50,000. Despite Average Joe's posing little threat to Globo Gym, a fitness Goliath across the street that is owned by egomaniacal White Goodman (Ben Stiller) - Goodman senses an easy acquisition and decides to take over the facility. Peter's ragtag group of regulars, however, are less than thrilled with the prospects, and mobilize a showdown, winner-takes-all Dodgeball tournament against Globo Gym. The film also features Missi Pyle, Rip Torn, Stephen Root, and Alan Tudyk.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/12/2005
UPC:	0024543172215
Original Release:	2004
Rating:	NR
Source:	BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:32:00
Sales rank:	12,501

Special Features

Closed Caption;All new audio commentary by Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and director/writer Rawson Marshall Thurber; 9 deleted/extended scenes and an alternate ending with optional commentary by Rawson Marshall Thurber; Super-sexy uncensored footage of the dodgeball dancers; DVD-ROM content includes Dodgeball screenplay, bloopers/gag reel, featurettes, trailers and much more

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Vince Vaughn	Actor
Christine Taylor	Actor
Ben Stiller	Actor,Actor
Rip Torn	Actor
Justin Long	Actor
Stephen Root	Actor
Joel David Moore	Actor
Chris Williams	Actor,Dwight,Actor
Alan Tudyk	Actor
Missi Pyle	Actor
Jamal E. Duff	Actor,Actor
Gary Cole	Actor
Jason Bateman	Actor
Hank Azaria	Actor
Al Kaplon	Actor
William Shatner	Actor
David Hasselhoff	Actor
Julie Gonzalo	Actor
Trever O'Brien	Actor
Cayden Boyd	Actor,Actor
Rusty Joiner	Actor
Kevin Porter	Actor
Brandon Molale	Actor
Suzy Nakamura	Actor
LB Denberg	Actor
Julia Ensign	Actor
Bowd J. Beal	Actor
Curtis Armstrong	Actor
Tate Chalk	Actor
Jordyn Coleman	Actor
Hayley Rosales	Actor
Bix Barnaba	Actor
Earl Schuman	Actor
Robert Carpenter	Actor
Tony Daly	Actor
John Kesler	Actor
Doug Grimes	Actor
Scarlett Chorvat	Actor
Matt Levin	Actor
Rawson Thurber	Actor
Sik End	Actor
Stephen B. Turner	Actor
Tim Soergel	Actor
Andy Chanley	Actor
Jordyn Colemon	Angry Troop #417 Girl
Theodore Shapiro	Composer

Technical Credits

Rawson Marshall Thurber

Rawson Marshall Thurber	Director,Screenwriter
Juel Bestrop	Casting
Blythe Cappello	Casting
Stuart Cornfeld	Producer
Gary D'Amico	Special Effects
Alex Daniels	Stunts
Werner Hahnlein	Special Effects
Jeanne McCarthy	Casting
Mary McLaglen	Executive Producer
Rhoades Rader	Executive Producer
Ben Stiller	Producer
Ryan Beadle	Special Effects
George H. Anderson	Sound Effects
Brian Basham	Sound Effects
Bill Burns	Sound Effects
David V. Butler	Sound Effects
Steve Cantamessa	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

Rawson Marshall Thurber's feature-length directorial debut, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, is a success thanks to its cast and its smartly structured screenplay. Vince Vaughn, (playing a part that has Stripes-era Bill Murray written all over it) is an agreeable underachiever, Ben Stiller plays outright unlikable for the first time in a film, Stephen Root continues to show why he may be the most underappreciated comic actor working, Rip Torn steals every scene he is in, and Gary Cole does a comedic pas de deux with Jason Bateman as a pair of sports announcers that rivals (without imitating) the similar duo from Best in Show. The film keeps the audience engaged by utilizing different kinds of comedy and performers with very different styles. Like the old joke about the weather, if you don't think something in this film is funny, wait five minutes and it will change. Because Thurber has tightly structured his story on the very familiar theme of underdogs, the film can support the comedic styles of the various performers. Like a good jazz composition, the screenplay supports the various performers as they solo and challenge each other. Make no mistake, this is a very slight film, but it succeeds at the most basic level for a comedy -- it produces laughs without hitting the audience over the head.