Saturday Night Premiere: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Saturday, October 01, 2005

This week's Saturday Night Premiere is 2004 movie Dodge ball: A true Underdog Story airing its premiere tonight on HBO. The comedy stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn as competing gym owners. Peter La Fleur is a small gym owner that learns that his gym is about to be foreclosed on and taken over by competitor White Goodman. La Fleur is given thirty days in order to raise the fifty thousand needed to save his business.

When conventional methods don't work, one of the gym's customers suggests the gym enters a dodge ball tournament that will win them the money needed. That is if they can win. None of them can play the game, and they shockingly even make it to the finals in Vegas. Problem is that Goodman pulled some strings in order to get his own team into the competition.

In the end, it is Globo gym vs. Average Joe's in a sudden death dodge ball match. Peter saves the day, but the night before he had signed over the gym to Goodman in a moment of weakness. Although in a surprise little twist, Peter had taken the money offered to him by Goodman and placed a small bet on him and the team winning. When they do, he wins five million dollars which is enough money to buy controlling interest in Goodman's company. The Underdogs save the day!

Okay, I have to admit here that I didn't really give much thought to this movie. The previews of it just hadn't interested me, and I'm not much of a Stiller fan. However, the film isn't all that bad. It isn't a film that makes you think, so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to follow along for ninety minutes. Some of the lines are cheesy, and the plot is too, but who doesn't like to see an underdog come from behind to win it all? If you're looking for some fun and entertainment, and comedies are your thing then this movie fits the bill. It's funny, and it is also a bit of a feel good movie when everything works out in the end.

To check this movie out for yourself check the following retailers: Amazon and J & R or rent through Netflix.com