a bland formula redeemed to a surprising extent by good casting

Rating: Null/10 (13 June 2005)

Predictable but immensely likable and funny farce/beating the odds story centering around a burned-out gym owner (Vaughn) and his gang of oddball, out of shape employees who must band together to save their shabby gym from foreclosure. With the help of an aging legend (Torn), they must enter a national dodgeball competition and lock horns with a detestable fitness egomaniac (Stiller) and his team of superior athletes. By the numbers, to be sure, in fact you'll probably swear you've seen it before, but it's well-cast with some good gags that make for more laugh-out loud moments than you'd expect. Torn has, by far, the film's best role and adds life whenever he's on screen. **½