# Ladybugs (film)

Ladybugs is a 1992 American sports-comedy film starring Rodney Dangerfield and directed by Sidney J. Furie. Dangerfield plays a Denver businessman who takes over a girls' soccer team that the company he works for sponsors. The film also stars Jackée Harry as his assistant coach, Ilene Graff as his girlfriend, Jonathan Brandis as his girlfriend's son, and Vinessa Shaw as his boss's daughter.
Then Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda has a cameo, as do Blake Clark and longtime Dangerfield friend Chuck McCann.

## Plot

Chester Lee is desperate for a promotion at work and some respect from his boss. To impress his boss, he fabricates a story of having been an excellent soccer player in his youth. However, he gets badgered into coaching a girls' team called the Ladybugs, sponsored by his company. Dragging his assistant Julie along as assistant coach, Chester figures the gig will be easy since the Ladybugs are a dynasty, having dominated previous seasons. If he can get this team to a championship, he will get the promotion. Unfortunately, only one player has returned for the new season, and the rest of the team has never played soccer before. The new team, which includes the boss's daughter, Kimberly, are clueless and make a dreadful start to the season, receiving no help from coach Chester. His boss is less than impressed and demands better results by the time he comes back from vacation.
In his personal life, Chester is engaged to Bess, who has a son, Matthew, from a previous marriage. Matthew happens to be a great soccer player, but poor grades and not finishing any of his homework got him kicked off the team. Chester picks up Matthew from school even though their relationship is not great. In the car, Chester explains his predicament, admits he knows nothing about soccer, and begs Matthew for help. Chester reveals he lied to Bess that he already had the promotion, when he will actually only get it if the team wins. Chester invites Matthew to watch the Ladybugs practice and to get some tips. Matthew explains how he would position himself if he was playing, which inspires Chester to persuade him to dress up as a girl and play with the team, wearing a wig and going by "Martha." Matthew has a crush on Kimberly from school, which partly convinces him to follow through with the plan. Only Chester and Julie know Martha's secret identity.
In his first game with the team, Matthew plays selfishly and has an unsportsmanlike attitude. He quits the deal, leaving Chester feeling defeated and ready to tell Bess he lied about the promotion, afraid it will ruin their engagement. Feeling bad for Chester, Matthew interrupts at the last second to tell a grateful Chester that he will rejoin. Chester tries to teach Matthew to act more polite and ladylike, and they go dress shopping together. During the next game, Matthew is more helpful and cooperative. He changes the coach's lineup, passes to his teammates, and encourages them while they score goals. Chester wants to take a player named Penny out, but "Martha" wants to give her another chance. A motivated Penny dribbles the ball and assists a goal. They win the game, and the team loves their new friend "Martha."
The team is playing well now, but the last player struggling with confidence is Kimberly. Chester's boss screams at him to take his daughter out of the game because he thinks she is a shame to him. "Martha" sees Kimberly upset and goes to comfort her. Now considering "Martha" a best friend, Kimberly comes over to "her" house by surprise. Matthew switches into his Martha costume, but he sees his mom and Chester in the driveway and has to rush back into his normal appearance to greet them and secretly explain the problem to Chester. "Martha" lures Kimberly out of the house and tells her she's busy so they should hang out another time. He runs into his mom who sees him in the dress and wig and asks what's going on. Chester is lost for words, so Matthew explains he just wanted to help the soccer team. Bess is furious at Chester for hiding this behind her back the whole time. Both Chester and Matthew are gloomy, but show up for the final championship game.
They decide they can't use Martha anymore if they want a chance at Bess forgiving Chester. Matthew hears that Kimberly's dad forced her to stay home, so he goes to her house to show her that he is Martha and bring her to the game. The coach informs the Ladybugs they won't have Martha today. They are disappointed, and trail 3-0 in the first half as a result. At halftime, Matthew reveals his true identity to the rest of his teammates. His honesty fires the team up and they bounce back. Kimberly scores the winning goal on a penalty kick and the team celebrates.
As the Ladybugs win the championship, Chester gets his promotion. Bess and Chester get married, while Matthew and Kimberly begin dating. Chester is now managing the company's girls' softball team, where the entire team are boys in wigs to impress his boss who thought the cheating was innovative. After his boss congratulates him on his career and marriage, Chester says to the audience, "I finally got some respect!"

## Cast

* Rodney Dangerfield as Coach Chester Lee
* Jackée Harry as Julie Benson
* Jonathan Brandis as Matthew/Martha
* Ilene Graff as Bess
* Vinessa Shaw as Kimberly Mullen
* Tom Parks as Dave Mullen
* Randall May as Championship Soccer trainer
* Jeanetta Arnette as Glynnis Mullen
* Crystal Cooke as Nancy Larimer (as LaCrystal Cooke)
* Jennifer Frances Lee as Carmelita Chu
* Vanessa Monique Rossel as Tina Velez
* Johna Stewart-Bowden as Sally Anne Welfelt (as Johna Stewart)
* Jandi Swanson as Penny Pester
* Nancy Parsons as Coach Annie
* Blake Clark as Coach Bull
* Tommy Lasorda as Coach Cannoli

## Production

Sidney J. Furie became involved with directing Ladybugs when producer Andre Morgan ,who'd previously worked with Furie as a producer on The Boys in Company C, told Furie of a project he and Albert S. Ruddy were working on that was similar in concept to The Bad News Bears. Furie accepted the directing job more out of a desire to work than anything else and claimed it was one of the best paid jobs he'd ever had working in the industry. For the casting of the character of Matthew both Jonathan Brandis and Leonardo DiCaprio auditioned for the role with the producers ultimately deciding to go with Brandis as DiCaprio looked too convincing in drag which they felt killed the joke.
Shooting took place from July through September 1991 in and around Denver, Colorado.

## Release

Paramount struggled with how to market the film and considered changing the title, as it clashed with Dangerfield's image as a profane comic. The film grossed almost US$15 million in the US and Canada, while Warner Bros. and Morgan Creek International obtained the foreign distribution rights.

## Reception

Ladybugs was panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes holds an approval rating of 14% with an average rating of 3.9/10, based on 21 reviews. Audiences however polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.
Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film flip-flops on its themes and "has the stale, slick, worked-over look of standard studio product". Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "Even when the material is feeble, as it is here, Mr. Dangerfield can sometimes be funny."