A superbly simple comedy which delivers laugh after laugh

Rating: 9/10 (8 November 2006)

As far as slapstick comedies go there are few which manage as many laughs as Dodgeball. The film sees Vaughn play a lovable gym owner who is both friendly and lax with his bill payments. The latter of these characteristics gets him in trouble with the bank and fellow gym owner Stiller threatens to buy out his gym if he doesn't find $50,000 by the end of the month. OK so the story up to now is a bit weak, well it doesn't really improve, but as Vaughn and his band of 'Average Joe's' decide to enter a dodge-ball competition to get the money the laughs come thick and fast. The group is later joined by Rip Tom, an eccentric ex-player who believes that "if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball" and star thrower Christine Taylor. Many of the laughs maybe juvenile and slapstick but there something about a guy getting hit in the crotch with a wrench that never stops being funny.What's more every member of the cast seems to fit into there roles perfectly from Steve the Pirate (Alan Tudyk) to the 'out of it' commentator Pepper Brooks (Jason Bateman). In fairness the film won't appeal to everyone, it's got a simple story line with uncomplicated gags and it's fronted by Vaughen and Stiller who's names in a film nowadays promise one of 'those' sort of comedies.
But for me the film is laugh out loud funny with superb characters.
I'd recommend anyone who enjoyed Acchorman or The 40 Year Old Virgin to take a look.