Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

About Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is a 2004 American sports comedy film. The storyline revolves around a group of misfits entering a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain. The underdogs have to outskill, outlast and outplay their superior competitors in the daunting, cutthroat world of competitive Dodgeball.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber and was his directorial debut. The screenplay is also by Thurber, who blends character-driven comedy with over-the-top physical humor to progress the story. The movie was produced by Stuart Cornfeld and Ben Stiller and released under the banner of 20th Century Fox.

Actors

• Vince Vaughn as Peter LaFleur – He plays the charmingly lackadaisical owner of Average Joe's Gym who rallies his members to keep their gym.
• Ben Stiller as White Goodman - The actor plays the narcissistic owner of Globo Gym and plays his villainous role flamboyantly.
• Christine Taylor as Kate Veatch – Taylor gives a performance filled with dry wit and sarcasm as an attorney caught between the battle of the gyms.
• Rip Torn as Patches O'Houlihan - Torn portrays the eccentric, tough-loving coach who prepares the Average Joes team for the dodgeball tournament.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The character of Patches O'Houlihan is played by Hank Azaria in the younger flashbacks, but by Rip Torn in the present day scenes.
• The fictional game "Blitzball" from Final Fantasy X appears in the background of one scene.

Music, Soundtrack

• Most of the soundtrack contains popular rock songs, including "Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh and "Milkshake" by Kelis. The energetic music plays a key role in amplifying the movie's comedic tone.

Quotes

• "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." - Patches O'Houlihan
• "Nobody makes me bleed my own blood. Nobody!" - White Goodman
• "I'm not sure if you know this, but average people and losers are two very different things." - Peter LaFleur