Does Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Hold Up Nearly 20 Years Later?

A Dodgeball sequel is officially in the works! It’s been nearly 20 years since we’ve been taught to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge. There are plenty of classic quotes and memes that come from this Vince Vaughn comedy which certainly made a last impression. Dodgeball: A True Underdog doesn’t have an Academy or Golden Globe award. In fact, the 2004 film received one Razzie nomination!

It was Ben Stiller for his portrayal of White Goodman as the worst supporting actor. Yet, this comedy is beloved by many and though a sequel feels unnecessary, many are open to the idea because of how fun the original was. Times have changed. So has the culture. Does Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story hold up nearly 20 years later?

The Story Was Silly (But In A Good Way)

Does Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Hold Up Nearly 20 Years Later?

Credit: Dodgeball

It’s rare these days to get silly, but good-natured comedies in the vein of Dodgeball. The story itself is pretty basic stuff: Average Joe’s Gym owner Peter La Fleur needs to raise $50,000 to keep his mortgage. In turn, he creates a makeshift dodgeball team to enter a huge tournament with a big cash prize. However, the story all around is pretty silly.

High schoolers are taking steroids and tranquilizer shots. Gay and fat jokes are aplenty. The montage about montages pretty much encourages violence. Even their tournament outfits were pretty outrageous. And yet, this stuff is still hilarious! Comedies are meant to be silly. The premise itself is grounded in reality. We’ve all had a point in life where we struggled with bills. However, it’s not just about Peter and his crew getting the money to save Average Joe’s.

It’s about building confidence within yourself. The courage to stand up and fight for what you believe in. The reason that Dodgeball sticks out in a good light is because of its silly and light-hearted nature. None of the jokes are mean-spirited. More importantly, the jokes serve to tell the overall story of the film. Not every joke is a hit, but you’ll be hard-pressed not to laugh at the bold stupidity of this fun comedy.

The third act of the film is pretty cool itself. Dodgeball has always been a fun game, and the film does an excellent job of balancing the drama and action with each game showcased. The games are thrilling to watch, and though you know that it’ll come down to Average Joe vs. The Purple Cobras, the sharp commentary (and hilarious) and action sequences keep it entertaining throughout.

The Characters Are The Stars

Does Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Hold Up Nearly 20 Years Later?

The Razzies have a knack for getting nominations wrong and there’s a clear case here. Ben Stiller is arguably the best thing about Dodgeball. Here’s an egotistic goofball with fun one-liners and quotes. His character is a perfect match for Vaughn’s Peter La Fleur. The latter is more of a calm and laid-back schmo who’s able to hilariously bounce off of Goodman’s wacky antics.

However, it’s the total supporting cast that makes Dodgeball memorable. Justin (Justin Long), Gordon (Stephen Root), Dwight (Chris Williams), Owen (Joel David Moore), and Steve the Pirate (Alan Tudyk): are likable characters who get a moment to shine within the film. Patches O’Houlihan’s (The legendary Rip Torn) absurd methods of training the ragtag group never get old. Kate Veatch (Christine Taylor) has nice chemistry with Peter and is a good “straight-woman” character for the group. Though her best moments are anytime she interacts with White Goodman.

Even the announcers Cotton McKnight (Gary Cole) and Pepper Brooks (Jason Bateman) have a couple of unforgettable jokes and quotes from their time in the tournament. The cast sells Dodgeball. The comic timing is spot on, and everyone understands their characters perfectly. No one feels like they’re acting. Everyone seems like they’re having fun in Dodgeball, and that vibrant and feel-good energy translates well through the movie.