DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story

Right now you can watch DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story in Australia on Netflix and Disney Plus, and in the US on Hulu and YouTube TV — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 3,876 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Vince Vaughn — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story earns its spot. The jokes in DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When megalomaniacal White Goodman, the owner of a trendy, high-end fitness center, makes a move to take over the struggling local gym run by happy-go-lucky Pete La Fleur, there's only one way for La Fleur to fight back: dodgeball. Aided by a dodgeball guru and Goodman's attorney, La Fleur and his rag-tag team of underdogs launch a knock-down, drag-out battle in which the winner takes all. Between them, Vince Vaughn and Christine Taylor carry the comedy without ever forcing it. DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story came out in 2004. What keeps DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Vince Vaughn is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.