The Benchwarmers Review

The Benchwarmers


Release Date: 16th May 2006 - Australia


Production Companies
Revolution Studios
Happy Madison Productions

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 80 minutes


Budget: $33,000,000

Box Office Gross: $64,962,629 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Three guys who used to get bullied witnessed the bullying of a friend's son and, in retaliation, started a baseball team to enter the Little League state tournament on behalf of all the losers and victims of bullying. These underdogs find themselves in several wacky situations in this goofball comedy.


Cast
Rob Schneider - Gus
David Spade - Richie
Jon Heder - Clark
Jon Lovitz - Mel
Craig Kilborn - Jerry
Molly Sims - Liz
Tim Meadows - Wayne
Nick Swardson - Howie
Erinn Bartlett - Salad Girl/
Sarah
Amaury Nolasco - Carlos

Bill Romanowski - Karl

Sean Salisbury - Brad

Matt Weinberg - Kyle

John Farley - Swimmer Boy

Reggie Jackson - Himself

Joe Gnoffo - Marcus Ellwood

Jackie Sandler - Female Costumer (Cameo)

Ray Nicholson - Kid Catcher #1 Game #2

Jared Sandler - Autograph Kid (Cameo)

Terry Crews - Poker Guy #1 (Cameo)

Rachel Hunter - Hot Mother

Patrick Schwarzenegger - Jock Kid Game #3

Dan Patrick - Poker Guy #2 A.K.A. O'Malley

James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (Voice)

(Cameo)

Max Prado - Nelson

Dennis Dugan - Coach Bellows (Cameo)

Jillian Henry - Gretchen Peterson

Garrett Julian - Mitchell

Alex Warrick - Sammy Sprinkler

Cole Hockenbury - Jarrett

Danny McCarthy - Troy

Mason Knight - Charlie Catcher

Charles Dugan - Marty

Doug Jones - Number 7 Robot

Jonathan Loughran - Brad's Assistant Coach

Judith Drake - Mrs. Johnson

Blake Clark - Umpire (Cameo)

Brooke Langton - Kathy Dobson

Mary Jo Catlett - Mrs. Ellwood

J.J. Darwish - Goth Kid

Elle King - Goth Kid's Girlfriend

William Daniels - K.I.T.T. (Voice) (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Dennis Dugan
Writer - Allen Covert
Writer/Co-Producer - Nick Swardson

Executive Producer - Barry Bernardi

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Allegra Clegg

Producers - Jack Giarraputo and Adam Sandler

Co-Producer - Derek Dauchy

Casting - Anne McCarthy and Jay Scully

Production Designer - Perry Andelin Blake

Supervising Art Director - Alan Au

Art Director - Jeffrey Mossa

Set Decorator - Gary Fettis

Property Masters - Timothy S. Wiles

and Max E. Brehme

Costume Designer - Mary Jane Fort

Special Makeup Effects: Marcus -

Bill Corso
Director of Photography - Thomas E. Ackerman

Production Supervisor - Daren Hicks

First Assistant Directors - John Hockridge

and Dennis M. White

Stunt Coordinator - Gary Guercio

Sports Coordinator - Mark Robert Ellis

Special Effects Coordinator - John Hartigan

Animatronic Robot Effects - Stan Winston (Uncredited)

Editors - Peck Prior and Sandy S. Solowitz

Supervising Sound Editor - Mike Wilhoit

Supervising Sound Mixers - Gary C. Bourgeois

and Greg Orloff

Foley Artists - Jeffrey Wilhoit and

James Moriana

Music - Waddy Wachtel

Music Supervisors - Michael Dilbeck

and Bryan Bonwell

Review
Those of you from Australia have never played but appreciated the American sport of baseball. THE BENCHWARMERS has comical hilarity and nerve-racking sports action with many memorable quotes and moments like the Hot Potato scene. I didn't approach this film wanting a meaningful storyline. For those who know me, I'm in it for the laughter.

The three cast members, Jon Heder, David Spade and Ron Schneider, were terrific in their leading roles. I enjoyed the cameo of baseball legend Reggie Jackson. I have not heard of him because I'm not from America. I also appreciated the presence of pop-culture figures K.I.T.T. and Darth Vader. There is an interesting minor character who is afraid to go out into the sun (agoraphobic), played by Nick Swardson. His portrayal is convincing.

As far as sports comedies go, it comes nowhere near Happy Gilmore, despite being produced by the same man (Adam Sandler) who did THE BENCHWARMERS. It is still a good film for providing a cheap laugh.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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