Movie Reviews
So what makes this such a good comedy? Well, Thurber knows comedy better than any other person in Hollywood this year. By that I mean he has the whole kit-n-caboodle in this one film. His dialogue is quick, sharp, and witty, and the direction is amazing when you think about the physical comedy that is happening on screen. His cast takes every hit like its the most painful thing theyve ever experienced. That, by itself, sets this aside from other look at me comedies.
In Dodgeball, there are countless times these guys get slammed in the face with something. In most films where people get hit in the face, theyre perfectly alright and get right back to what they are doing. In Dodgeball Thurber makes sure that he makes you hurt inside. The cast get hit over and over and over and every single one of those impacts produces a laugh because of how the actors react. The character of Justin (Justin Long) is particularly fun to watch.
Vince Vaughn plays Peter Le Fleur, a no-goaled nice guy who owns Average Joe workout center, and who is in the red by about $50,000. He hasnt got much time to pay it off. Meanwhile, White Goodman (Ben Stiller) owns Globo Gym a high-priced, immoral, and unethical gym that is worth roughly $4 million. If La Fleur doesnt pay off his mortgage, Goodman seizes his property and makes even more money.
La Fleur has a small band of loyal people who team up to raise that money. When a carwash only succeeds to puts them deeper in debt, one of the guys named Gordon (Stephen Root) suggests joining the dodgeball tournament thats held every year. The finalists win $50,000...conveniently.
As the rest of the film unfolded, I realized that this was one of the smartest dumb films Id ever seen. Yes, the plot is quirky and unrealistic, and yes, the characters are out of this world, but it works on levels that it shouldnt work on. Thurber makes sure of that as well. Also, I tend to think comedies predictable. Dodgeball just isnt.
The best lines came from Rip Torn, who plays Patches OHoulihan, a dodgeball great. Now that hes old, he decides to train Average Joes team. Thurber carefully places Rip Torns actions and dialogue in just the right place, at just the right time. The result is impossible to not laugh at.
Dodgeball is a film that sheds light on the idiocies of that very game. It shows how its one-sided and usually unfair. It is funny from the opening shot, to the ending frame, literally. Perhaps Rawson Marshall Thurber is the next big thing in comedy. I sure hope so. ***