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Dodgeball Trailer | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

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If You Can Dodge a Wrench, You Can Dodge a Ball

Trailer Appreciation / Dustin Rowles

Trailers | July 9, 2009 | Comments (29)

Welcome to our newest feature here at Pajiba: Trailer Appreciation (I just thought the idea up five minutes ago!) This gives us a chance to look back on some of our favorite trailers from years past and critique them with hindsight. There’s a gentle art to the trailer — you want to interest your viewers, but you don’t want to give too much away, which is an element much easier to judge in retrospect, obviously. Of course, in advance of a movie, you don’t want a trailer to give away all the great gags, but post-release, it’s kind of nice to find your favorite moments all edited together in under two minutes.

We start with a nostalgic trip all the way back to 2004 for a look at Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Written and directed by Rawson Thurber, it’s the rare comedy that manages to both follow and satirically subvert the underdog sports-movie formula. Just look at the gloriousness: a thinner, funnier Vince Vaughn; Ben Stiller in one of his last amusing roles; Justin Long before he became The Mac Guy; Stephen Root in his second best role (after Office Space); Alan Tudyk before the Browncoats phenomenon really set in; Jason Bateman before his career resurrection; and, of course, Chuck motherfucking Norris before he went batshit Huckabee.

After years of Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler shtick sports comedies, it’s nice to look back on one that did it absolutely right, one that relies on jokes and not the yelly Sandlerese or the macho-bravado Will Ferrell gibberish. It’s not the best sports movie of all time, but it’s an irrististible cinematic treat. See it on TV, and it will pull you in.

More than that, it reminds us all of a time when a punch to the junk could still be funny, but a wrench to the head could be even funnier.



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Comments

My favorite part is still the Lance Armstrong cameo. It's almost Motivational-Poster worthy...

Posted by: Stella at July 9, 2009 11:50 AM

My favorite trailer of all time was the first Scooby-Doo trailer. It's the one where it's all dark and spooky and you Scooby from behind and you think it's a Batman trailer, and then Scooby turns around and says, "HROO? Me?"

Posted by: BWeaves at July 9, 2009 11:57 AM

Rip Torn can throw a wrench at me any day.

Stephen Root in his second best role (after Office Space)

I'd say third best-his Jimmy James in Newsradio was classic. Love the Root.

Posted by: Julie at July 9, 2009 11:58 AM

Got to give Root some love for his blind DJ Lund in O Brother Where Art Thou?

Ohhhh mercy! Yes we got to beat that competition.

Posted by: dammitjanet at July 9, 2009 12:01 PM

P.S. I have no intention of EVER seeing the Scooby Doo movies. I just liked the first trailer.

Posted by: BWeaves at July 9, 2009 12:02 PM

Dodgeball is absolutely the sort of movie, which, should you catch it on TV while flipping channels, you are compelled to watch for at least 15 minutes, if not the whole rest of the movie. It is such a good basic cable film.

Posted by: tamatha at July 9, 2009 12:10 PM

Oh God, how I love, love, love this movie. We own it and we just watched it on the weekend for about the 700th time.

So many funny, funny moments but Jason Bateman is probably my favourite part of the movie. God he's funny.

Posted by: Kelly at July 9, 2009 12:11 PM

Great movie, but, to be honest, I wasn't very moved by the trailer. It felt kind of slapped together and wasn't actually all that funny.

Is the idea of this feature that we look back on good trailers (even for maybe not very good movies) or that we watch trailers for movies we enjoyed to relive how much we enjoyed those movies?

Posted by: Macafee at July 9, 2009 12:18 PM

I remember seeing the trailer in the theater and being utterly underwhelmed, but at least they didn't front load the trailer with every funny bit in the film, and there were quite a few. I have to respect that.

"Is it necessary to drink my urine? No but it's sterile and I like the taste."

Bottoms up, Rip!

Posted by: Leigh at July 9, 2009 12:30 PM

"Because it's sterile. And I like the taste."

Posted by: superEdna at July 9, 2009 12:31 PM

Right in the beak!!!

I was completely blown away by Jason Bateman and, don't forget, Mr. Gary Motherfucking Cole as the commentators. Also loved the bird-flipping from the back of the scooter.

And the beautiful lesbian kiss.

Hmm, I know I left that bunk around here somewhere . . .

Posted by: Kballs at July 9, 2009 12:32 PM

Julie, you beat me to it. I *heart* News Radio.
I always liked this movie, glad I'm not alone.
Comment diversion topic: Movies you are ashamed/afraid to admit you like for fear of mockery.
Anyone?

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at July 9, 2009 12:50 PM

I watched this with a friend when it came out on DVD and when it was over we looked at each other and started making out.

That didn't actually happen.

I also hated this movie, a lot. I don't even remember why, but I thought it was irritating and stupid and that "drink my piss" line was the only decent part of the movie, besides the part where it ended. I started hating on Vince Vaughn that day, and I haven't looked back since.

Except for when I made out with my friend. I look back on that with reverence and awe. But it still didn't happen.

Posted by: annoyingmouse at July 9, 2009 12:51 PM

For your concideration:
1. Flash Gordon
2. Comedian ( Jerry Seinfield)
3. Watchmen
4. Cloverfield
5. Where the Wild Things Are
6. The Shinning
8. Twister
9. Spiderman ( WTC )
10. any Harry Potter

Posted by: rabbi at July 9, 2009 12:56 PM

This movie is hilarious. And I know there isn't a lot of love for Ben Stiller around here, but I thought he was great in this.
"We should mate."
"What?"
"I said we should date."
"I just threw up in my mouth a little."
I must say, I agree that Jason Bateman was probably my favorite, if I had to pick. Or Justin Long when he describes his experience of being suffocated by the arse of the big girl as such: "That was the worst".
My bf and I were watching this on cable not long ago and we both fell out at that line.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at July 9, 2009 12:58 PM

Don't forget about Me'Shell - he rocked, especially when he served as Stiller's chaffeur on the scooter.

I don't know what the "Browncoats phenemenon" is, but I will always love Alan Tudyk because he IS Steve the Pirate.

Mini-diversion: Spice World. 'Nuff said.

Posted by: SugarKane at July 9, 2009 1:41 PM

Love this feature. I nominate Shopgirl for a trailer is better than the film category. That trailer is so damn good. That movie is kind of meh.

Posted by: Max at July 9, 2009 2:29 PM

I've really started to love Justin Long. He shows up in my favorite movies. And I think his character in Zack and Miri deserves a spin-off.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at July 9, 2009 2:52 PM

I still annoy my friends by sneering "Joanie love Chachi!" at them whenever they get schmoopy with their significant others. And then by laughing hysterically because, come on, it's funny.

Posted by: Geetch at July 9, 2009 3:09 PM

"Pepper needs new shorts!"

Posted by: Forrest at July 9, 2009 3:18 PM

"Gotta keep the body guessing."

Posted by: Forrest at July 9, 2009 3:23 PM

"We could sell our blood and semen."
"Gar."
"Not mixed together."

Posted by: Forrest at July 9, 2009 3:28 PM

"You had me at blood and semen."

Posted by: Forrest at July 9, 2009 3:30 PM

It's a testament to just how secretly good this movie is that the "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball" bit still makes me collapse into giggles. This was also, along with Wedding Crashers, the peak of Vince Vaughn's recent career, and I hope he has another resurrection soon, because I love the guy, but Fred Claus and Four Christmases just aren't getting it done. Maybe he should try another serious role? Or another Lester Long, who is personally my favorite Vince character of all time?

Posted by: Mimi at July 9, 2009 4:10 PM

"Memento" was a masterpiece of a trailer. It revealed no big twists but worked perfectly to get my ass in the theater opening day. Brilliant movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbTMAffb0CA

Posted by: TylerDFC at July 9, 2009 4:36 PM


Stephen Root is one of my favorite actors. Everything he does is hilarious, and the dude's a freakin' chameleon. When you start thinking about it you realize that the dude has been in EVERYTHING, including some of the best comedies of the last few years. I love the hell out of him.

My favorite trailer ever was the very first trailer that came out for Fellowship of the Ring. It was the perfect combination of showing just enough, some great lines and awesome music.

Posted by: figgy at July 10, 2009 12:15 AM

You know who I totally don't miss? The voiceover guy in trailers who has to say EVERYTHING that appears onscreen like none of us can read. Wherever he's been at lately, I sure hope he stays there.

Posted by: UncivilizedMike at July 10, 2009 4:47 AM

Ha! I just ordered this on Blu-ray from Borders.com - I had a combination of discount codes that brought it down to like four bucks or something. Love this movie.

Posted by: Another Jen at July 10, 2009 4:50 AM

Oh....what kind of mother am I? I love this movie and now my 3 kids are constantly quoting it. Their current favorite is "You're as useless as a poopy-flavored lollipop."

Someone should call the authorities. I truly am not equipped to be a parent.

Posted by: wsapnin at July 11, 2009 7:30 PM





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