A group of misfits enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain.
White Goodman (Ben Stiller) is the owner and founder of Globo Gym, and would love nothing more than owning Average Joe's Gymnasium. Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn) doesn't want to lose his gym to Goodman, but can't find a way to get $50,000 in time. Peter and his gang of gym buddies think of ways to raise money, finally settling on winning a dodge ball tournament. White Goodman retaliates by creating his own dodge ball team to finish off Peter. Peter's team doesn't do too well, until legendary ADAA champ Patches O'Houlihan (Rip Torn) turns up ready to train them.Written by
FilmFanUK
In the locker room scene before the first dodgeball match, there is an announcer voice that talks much through the scene. As everyone is warming up before play, the announcer says: "A reminder, all players must be vaccinated for cholera, syphilis and shingles before play begins. Again, dyslexic players will not be allowed on the court. Team Blitzkrieg, to the tournament floor for a first round match. Only ADAA balls will be used. Personal balls of any kind are strictly prohibited." See more »
Goofs
Globo Gym and the Kamikazes play each other in the quarterfinals of the dodgeball tournament. Yet close examination of the tournament bracket reveals that the two teams could not have met in the quarterfinals because of their placements in the bracket. Other teams such as Average Joe's, Skillz That Killz and the Lumberjacks share this inconsistency as well. See more »
Quotes
Justin:
Well, it'll be worth my while when I make the cheerleading squad this time. Prove to Amber and everyone else that I'm not a loser.
Peter La Fleur:
Wait, you want to make the cheerleading squad to prove to a girl that you are not a loser?
Justin:
Yeah... Why?
Peter La Fleur:
Nothing, just high school's changed a little since I was a kid.
See more »
Crazy Credits
At the beginning of the credits, there's a commercial for Average Joe's, followed by a quick glimpse of White Goodman's fate. See more »
Alternate Versions
Due to the late release date in Germany, Lance Armstrong's line had to be changed from "Won the Tour de France five times" to "six times" when the German version was dubbed. See more »
Lady in Red
Written and Performed by Chris De Burgh
Courtesy of Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises See more »
User Reviews
superior slapstick comedy - tightly scripted, it gets immense mileage out of the flimsiest of gags
Go and see it. It's one of the best comedies of the year and a lot funnier than it should be given the flimsy premise. Ben Stiller has a big 'Globo' health club worth millions (it even includes cosmetic surgery facilities - they know that 'fatness is genetic, like baldness or necrophilia'). The lovely Christine Taylor is his lawyer, charged with getting rid of the 'Average Joe' gym across the road so they can build a parking lot for Globo customers. She takes a liking to the 'underdog' owner of the Average Joe gym though, and helps them in their plan to win a Dodgeball contest in order to get the money they owe. Dodgeball is an 'obscure' sport that mostly consists of throwing a ball to hit your opponent (look it up on the Net - Dodgeball fans take it quite seriously!) Even when I describe the film, I think 'it sounds awful' - I probably would have avoided it if it hadn't been recommended so highly - and I recommend you stay till the *very end* of the credits for one of the best scenes (which also takes a swipe at the US film-making industry!)
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Go and see it. It's one of the best comedies of the year and a lot funnier than it should be given the flimsy premise. Ben Stiller has a big 'Globo' health club worth millions (it even includes cosmetic surgery facilities - they know that 'fatness is genetic, like baldness or necrophilia'). The lovely Christine Taylor is his lawyer, charged with getting rid of the 'Average Joe' gym across the road so they can build a parking lot for Globo customers. She takes a liking to the 'underdog' owner of the Average Joe gym though, and helps them in their plan to win a Dodgeball contest in order to get the money they owe. Dodgeball is an 'obscure' sport that mostly consists of throwing a ball to hit your opponent (look it up on the Net - Dodgeball fans take it quite seriously!) Even when I describe the film, I think 'it sounds awful' - I probably would have avoided it if it hadn't been recommended so highly - and I recommend you stay till the *very end* of the credits for one of the best scenes (which also takes a swipe at the US film-making industry!)