Dodgeball

release year: 2004
genre: comedy
viewing setting: home DVD, 4/21/12 and 1/1/2005

synopsis: To save their gym, a bunch of losers decide to enter a national dodgeball tournament.

impressions: This was pretty good stuff. To begin with, who knew that dodgeball was such a serious sport, much less one with tournaments and big cash prizes? I always thought it was a way to expose the slower, weaker kids in gym class. Anyway, some good characters, funny lines and situations, plus plenty of ball-busting action make this a comedy worth seeing.

things to watch for: About 30 seconds into the credits, don't miss it.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A coach throwing steel wrenches at his pupils' heads, to improve their agility.

acting: Vince Vaughn is the main protagonist, and he plays it really mellow and laid-back, but the real riot here is Ben Stiller as an egomaniacial gym king. Rip Torn plays the wheelchair-bound coach who helps whip the misfits into shape.

final word: Funny and well worth seeing.

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