‹ All people
Meet the Parents
Meet the Parents
Meet the Parents
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Film credit
Ben Stiller
Also referred to as Stiller
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 8
- Movies in this archive
- 8
Rewatchables episodes featuring Ben Stiller’s films
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
2004 film
Craig Horlbeck · Danny Heifetz · Danny Kelly
Aired August 6, 2024
Happy Gilmore
1996 film
Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Josh Safdie · Benny Safdie
Aired December 10, 2019
Displaying all 8 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Picking Nits
Puff cassette; toilet; roof cigarette; rushed engagement; secret proposal; usher; borrowed clothes; painted cat; volleyball injury and positions
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:33Read transcript
- Playing Puff the Magic Dragon on cassette during an ordinary drive is strange even for 2000. — Kyle Brandt
- Giving a guest a basement room whose toilet cannot be flushed is inhospitable and leaves an obvious practical problem. — Bill Simmons
- Lighting a cigarette while retrieving a cat from an in-law’s roof seems an extreme and unnecessary expression of nicotine dependence. — Bill Simmons
- A wedding only two weeks after the engagement is implausibly fast. — Kyle Brandt
- Greg intends to propose after ten months without meeting Pam’s highly involved parents. — Bill Simmons
- Children would not reliably keep the planned proposal secret. — Bill Simmons
- Making Greg an usher immediately after meeting and belittling him is odd. — Kyle Brandt
- Greg should buy basic clothes instead of borrowing family underwear; his spending elsewhere shows he can afford it. — Kyle Brandt
- The toilet should be repaired or labeled; interpreting it as Jack’s deliberate boyfriend test is speculative. — Bill Simmons
- Painting the substitute cat’s tail is indefensible. — Craig Horlbeck
- The volleyball victim does not raise her hands, and the quantity of blood seems excessive for the injury later shown. — Bill Simmons
- The much taller Rebhorn should defend the net rather than Stiller. — Kyle Brandt
Most Rewatchable Scene
Kevin’s barbecue and volleyball (two final choices)
In the discussion (19)
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:08Read transcript
- The aborted proposal with children holding misarranged letters is an honorable mention. — Bill Simmons
- Meeting Pam’s parents establishes Jack through the green-car judgment, rental-car shaming and toilet-trained-cat explanation.
- Jack’s reaction to male nursing and his ominous remark about things he hates create expertly uncomfortable tension. — Craig Horlbeck
- The Puff the Magic Dragon car ride, dog-versus-cat argument and pothead accusation are major candidates.
- Dinner is the initial preferred scene, beginning with Greg mangling grace. — Kyle Brandt
- The urn revelation and Jack’s poem about his mother escalate dinner’s awkwardness.
- The cat-milking exchange and “I have nipples, Greg” line are highlights. — Bill Simmons
- The former engagement revelation, champagne cork breaking the urn and Jinx complete a perfectly escalating dinner scene. — Bill Simmons
- Borrowing clothes from Pam’s brother is a solid scene, with Stiller trying unsuccessfully to look cool. — Bill Simmons
- The uncomfortable dinner outfit and later stoner clothes make Greg’s unease tangible. — Kyle Brandt
- Kevin’s hand-carved wooden structure and effortless self-promotion make him an absurdly formidable ex-boyfriend. — Bill Simmons
- Kevin’s questions about homeownership and work let Jack repeatedly undermine Greg by mentioning nursing and religion. — Kyle Brandt
- The lacrosse-camp bond, signature handshake and transition to volleyball create a nearly perfect comic stretch. — Kyle Brandt
- Rebhorn’s muttered Florence Nightingale jab and “It was a big shot” exchange are volleyball highlights. — Bill Simmons
- Pam bonding with Kevin, Jack’s continuing marijuana jokes and Greg’s spike keep the volleyball scene escalating. — Kyle Brandt
- The fire is visually entertaining and provokes Jack’s renewed cat-milking accusation. — Bill Simmons
- Greg getting caught is considered necessary narrative collapse rather than a most-rewatchable contender. — Bill Simmons
- The second lie-detector scene and hidden-camera ending are also mentioned. — Bill Simmons
- Both final choices settle on Kevin’s barbecue and volleyball sequence, replacing the initial dinner preference. — Bill Simmons
Half-Assed Internet Research
Original indie film; box office and video; Oscar song; home movies; smoking; De Niro role choice; polygraph; DeHuff; cats; Focker name; set behavior; ratings rule; Litter Kwitter; Polo bankruptcy
In the discussion (18)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:56Read transcript
- The film originated with a low-budget 1992 version by Greg Glienna; Universal’s rights purchase reportedly allowed it to suppress that earlier film, which intermittently reappears online. — Bill Simmons
- Randy Newman’s A Fool in Love received an Original Song Oscar nomination. — Bill Simmons
- A $55 million budget and roughly $330 million gross are reported; it beat Remember the Titans on opening weekend. — Bill Simmons
- The film is reported as the seventh-biggest release of 2000; the sequels earned $522.7 million and $310.7 million respectively. — Bill Simmons
- Video sales reportedly added $200 million in 2001, illustrating the lucrative home-video era. — Bill Simmons
- Polo’s husband’s home movies were reportedly inserted after test audiences disliked Pam, making her more appealing as a romantic partner. — Bill Simmons
- Stiller reportedly was not a smoker and felt uncomfortable smoking beside De Niro, whose screen technique he admired. — Bill Simmons
- Claims that the bomb dialogue was removed from airplane screenings conflict with a recent personal flight viewing that retained it. — Bill Simmons
- De Niro reportedly turned down Any Given Sunday to make this film. — Bill Simmons
- De Niro reportedly suggested the polygraph scene. — Bill Simmons
- Nicole DeHuff, who played Pam’s sister, died at 30 after pneumonia; the diagnosis and sequel timing are discussed with uncertainty. — Bill Simmons
- Two Himalayan cats, Bailey and Misha, played Jinx, with Misha doing most scenes. — Bill Simmons
- Jim Carrey reportedly devised the Focker surname. — Bill Simmons
- De Niro reportedly enjoyed the cat between takes and encouraged more scenes with it. — Bill Simmons
- De Niro reportedly kept his distance from Stiller to sustain their characters’ unease; Stiller later acknowledged he was not especially nice. — Kyle Brandt
- The ratings body reportedly required proof of a real Focker surname before permitting it. — Bill Simmons
- The movie reportedly inspired the successful Litter Kwitter cat toilet-training product. — Bill Simmons
- Polo’s 2014 bankruptcy filing is mentioned without an explanation. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:41Read transcript
- Mike Myers is initially said to have been offered the role; later discussion explicitly qualifies the conflicting reports. — Bill Simmons
- Steven Soderbergh reportedly tried to develop the remake before leaving for Out of Sight. — Bill Simmons
- Spielberg reportedly considered directing and producing with Jim Carrey and possibly Al Pacino. — Bill Simmons
- Carrey remained involved after Spielberg departed and contributed ideas before leaving; reports of a Mike Myers offer are explicitly uncertain. — Bill Simmons
- Stiller is judged better for awkward dinner-table humor than the more physical version imagined for Carrey. — Kyle Brandt
- Naomi Watts reportedly initially had Pam’s role and said producers replaced her because they did not find her sexy enough; that explanation is met with disbelief. — Bill Simmons
- Christopher Walken reportedly was the backup if De Niro declined, inviting a Wedding Crashers comparison. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:30Read transcript
- Stiller is the initial choice, challenged by Thurber’s remarkable path from film school and commercial to dream-cast feature; Vaughn is rejected. — Craig Horlbeck
- Thurber’s subsequent career is acknowledged, but Stiller’s role in getting the film made, its success and iconic character win the argument. — Craig Horlbeck
- Stiller’s later lucrative family films are discussed as another level of success; two final responses settle on Stiller while crediting Thurber’s achievement. — Craig Horlbeck
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Ben Stiller
- Speaker not identified
- Ben Stiller
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:32Read transcript
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:06Read transcript
- Stiller and the script are immediate choices, while Torn is selected for his relentless high-energy delivery. — Craig Horlbeck
Cruise or Hanks?
Cruise as Goodman; Hanks as Peter
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:56Read transcript
- Cruise could play Goodman through his Tropic Thunder mode; if replacing protagonist Peter, Hanks is the firm choice. — Craig Horlbeck
- Vaughn is distinguished as protagonist from Stiller as the film’s comic star. — Craig Horlbeck
Apex Mountain
Ben Stiller’s2004 clout; Christine Taylor; dodgeball; Talk Like a Pirate Day; announcers for a fictional sport
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:58Read transcript
- Stiller’s2004 stretch is affirmed because his clout got a first-time director’s dodgeball film made; Mary and Tropic Thunder are alternatives but the group returns to2004. — Craig Horlbeck
- Vaughn is assigned to Wedding Crashers the following year, while Taylor is affirmed here. — Craig Horlbeck
- The sport of dodgeball is emphatically affirmed for being revitalized by the film. — Craig Horlbeck
- Stunt casting is proposed through Armstrong, Norris, Shatner and Hasselhoff, with amazement that these appearances fit a modest budget. — Craig Horlbeck
- Talk Like a Pirate Day is affirmed for2004; pirates generally are debated against Pirates of the Caribbean and actual historical piracy. — Craig Horlbeck
- Inflatable athletic cups are proposed and compared with Austin Powers’s different penis-enlarger prop. — Craig Horlbeck
- Movie announcers are proposed against Bob Uecker in Major League; Cotton and Pepper are affirmed for a fictional, non-major-league sport. — Craig Horlbeck
- Cash in suitcases is proposed through the deliberately unimpressive appearance of a hundred thousand dollars. — Craig Horlbeck
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
Ben Stiller; Steve the Pirate as a conceptual alternative
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:50:20Read transcript
- Stiller is the primary choice, particularly arguing a referee warning like a baseball manager, though most of his excess is exactly why the film works. — Craig Horlbeck
- His weightlifting spasms exemplify successful excess; one definition of the award requires acting that fails, leading to Steve the Pirate as an entire character built on overacting. — Craig Horlbeck
- Gordon’s wife is a late nomination for her exaggerated assurances that her new relationship is going well. — Craig Horlbeck
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Peter LaFleur sucks; Justin Long could have been his generation’s Matthew Broderick
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:01Read transcript
- Peter is criticized for apathy, uncollected fees, accepting a bribe, sexual harassment, drinking and letting others push his car; the gym seems unsafe and worthy of foreclosure.
- The defense is that he gives misfits a welcoming place, but the criticism remains that he says the right things without being a good person to spend time with.
- Long is proposed as a possible generational Broderick: Accepted gives him Ferris Bueller-like charisma, Jeepers Creepers shows range, and his physical comedy improves every movie. — Craig Horlbeck
- Stiller is proposed as Hollywood’s best nepotism beneficiary on his own merits; Ellison’s wealth, Bronny James, Shanahan, Curtis and Please Don’t Destroy prompt distinctions between opportunity and demonstrated ability. — Craig Horlbeck
Half-Assed Internet Research
Dodgeball boom; physical injuries; Torn’s behavior; sports camera crew; uniforms; cast nightlife; Fran concept
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:59Read transcript
- Justin Long reportedly suffered temporary vision loss from repeated real dodgeball impacts; the filmmakers said hits required actual thrown balls. — Craig Horlbeck
- The film reportedly triggered a nationwide dodgeball-league boom. — Craig Horlbeck
- Training produced ankle injuries and possible concussions; Stiller hit Taylor in the face, and machines fired balls at actors. — Craig Horlbeck
- Torn reportedly needed coaxing, was mean to Long and repeatedly left set despite a handler; his distracted final encouragement is debated as either funny or insufficiently in character. — Craig Horlbeck
- The tournament was shot at Cabrillo High School with sports camera operators, making the elementary-school game feel genuinely exciting. — Craig Horlbeck
- Average Joe’s uniforms were modeled on Hoosiers. — Craig Horlbeck
- Audience extras reportedly included work-release or halfway-program participants; Vaughn bonded the cast through late strip-club outings and reportedly paid Williams to stay out. — Craig Horlbeck
- Fran was originally conceived as a Fembot-like robot. — Craig Horlbeck
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 of 43 in total
Films in the archive
Along Came Polly
2004
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
2004
Happy Gilmore
1996
Meet the Parents
2000
Reality Bites
1994
There's Something About Mary
1998
The Royal Tenenbaums
2001
Tropic Thunder
2008