Silly, stupid, but you know what?? Fun.

Rating: 8/10 (8 May 2006)

The Benchwarmers was no more or less of anything I expected from it. If you go in with high expectations I think there is something wrong with you?? It only delivers exactly what it presents...silly, slapstick, dumb, gross out comedy with a bit of a feel good message. I have to say that it almost exceeded what little expectations I had for it because it was more fun than I thought it would be. Wanna know how dumb The Benchwarmers is?? Rob Schneider plays the cool, jock guy of the bunch!! ANNND he's married to Molly Sims!! Uh huh. Need I say more??
On that note Rob Schneider sort of headlines the cast as Gus, the less nerdy, more cool and together guy of the bunch. The bunch being his less cool best friends. Schneider is actually pretty good in his role. He's good enough to be the team leader and actually pulls off looking like he knows what he's doing on the ball field. He kind of plays a more suave version of Deuce Bigalow because he still makes the under-appreciated feel better about themselves. David Spade tones down his usual over the top performance to play Richie Goodman. Spade still delivers an ample amount of his one liners and insults which is good because he wouldn't be Spade without them. Overall...it's the same role he plays every time. Speaking of which...Napoleon Dynamite makes his 3rd Big screen appearance since the film from which he spawned. Jon Heder returns in Benchwarmers playing the same role he played in Napoleon Dynamite, and making sure to get a Napoleon line in there too. ("Yah cause it's so big"--his brain) I mean Heder is funny and has some really great physical comedy it's just not different that's all. Spade and Schneider are much more toned down for The Benchwarmers but Heder is at full swing. Another toned down comedian who I was pretty impressed with was Jon Lovitz as the billionaire former nerd funding The Benchwarmers. Lovitz usually drives me insane with his incessant yammering and annoying over the top supposed comedy but this time he was good. He has some suaveness to his character, had some good lines and didn't take it too far. Craig Kilborn was good as the preppy former bully who is coaching his son and their teammates against the nerds and losers. Kilborn efficiently makes you dislike him by being rich and snotty and tough on his kid. You'd think the kids would be more of a focus on the film but it's more about the three guys getting retribution for their years of torture from the bullies and inspiring some kids while they do it.
Adam Sandler buddy director Dennis Dugan takes the helm and does what he does. The jokes are one liners and grossly made bodily functions and nose picking and the likes...and of course the must have baseball gags of not being able to hit, catch, throw, run do anything. See what I am saying is that this film is just A-Typical period. It's exactly what it says it will be, it's exactly what you could expect and it's 150% predictable beginning to end and nobody does anything they haven't done 100 times before. So is it a 1/10?? NOOOOO. It's still funny and kinda cute and even slightly heartwarming amidst the fart jokes and such. Kids will probably go head over heels for it and adults will just roll their eyes but sneak a smile. It's not so bad, in fact it's probably even worth seeing. Better than your average dumb film. 8/10