Hilarious and Entertaining... A Good Time Had By All

Rating: Null/10 (17 September 2004)

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS*** "Dodgeball" in itself is a hilarious, amusing concept- knock the other guy out with a ball while you yourself not getting hit to survive in the game. Try incorporating this into a summer comedy, starring the ingenious comic of Ben Stiller, and the result is nonstop hilarity, entertainment, and a good time well accounted for its price. In "Dodgeball", you have a group of adult misfits, contending with another imperious group for control of their place of activity- the gym. This invites an amusing premise- why not challenge the "big bad wolf" in a dodgeball tournament, the winner gaining control of the gym and its stakes? So ensues a relentless, hilarious adventure of the underdogs going for the gold. Enter the insanely funny Rip Torn as the team's instructor, educating them in Unorthodox manners the rules of the game ("Dodge a wrench, dodge a ball"), who provides the film's greatest laughs and amuses the audience throughout the duration of his screen time. Perhaps somewhat too zany, particularly toward the end, as some of the characters overstep their roles (e.g. "the pirate") and the finesse being too contrived and predictable. Yet overall, the hilarious content and execution of this delicious concept made for one happy experience at the movies this summer. ***1/2 out of ****