Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is a 2004 sports comedy film written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller as rival gym owners competing against in each other in a dodgeball tournament that takes place where else but Las Vegas. The film was nominated for several awards including Best Sports Movie at the 2004 ESPY Awards.

Peter (Vaughn) owns a small local gym, The Average Joe’s, which is bought by rival corporate chain Globo Gym, owned by ridiculously eccentric White Goodman (Stiller) after Peter defaults on the Average Joe’s gym mortgage.

To save their cherished gym, the Average Joe’s must defeat the Purple Cobras of Globo Gym in the Las Vegas International Dodgeball Open Championships.

Watch the official movie trailer below:

“Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story – Trailer” by YouTube Movies

In the Las Vegas tournament both the Purple Cobras (Globo Gym) and Average Joe’s have to defeat a number of other teams before their final match against each other.

It happens quick but one of the teams Globo Gym plays against is the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (at about 56:45).

Though the film’s title tells you it’s all about Dodgeball, Stiller says that most of the cast hated filming the dodgeball scenes.

“It’s a game for the young. It’s one thing when you’re eight, but when you’re 38, it gets really exhausting. After three or four minutes, you’re fried.”

Stiller’s then wife, Christine Taylor, also stars in the film and remembers it not being particularly enjoyable either.

“Awful. Awful, awful, awful. I wish I could say that I got good. I wish I could say that the dodgeball that you see in the film is the dodgeball that I actually played in real life but it’s not even close. Like, I am awful.”

It also probably didn’t help that her own husband hit her not once, but TWICE in the face with a dodgeball.

FUN FACT: Ben Stiller was nominated for Worst Actor in the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies) in a whopping 5 movies that year-by far the most of any actor that year-for his roles in Along Came Polly, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Envy, and Starsky & Hutch but lost to George Bush playing himself in Fahrenheit 9/11. (That’s a win though, right?)

Nevada Filming Locations

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story was filmed in various places in California and in Las Vegas, Nevada. The entire second half of the film takes places in Las Vegas as the teams compete in the tournament.

During the tournament, The Average Joe’s stayed at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino so there are a number of scenes featuring the hotel.

Although the Las Vegas International Dodgeball Open Championships in the film takes place in Las Vegas, the actual competition scenes were shot inside a basketball gym at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, California.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_Golden_Raspberry_Awards
https://www.si.com/vault/2004/06/21/8212514/qa-ben-stiller-the-38yearold-actor-stars-in-dodgeball-a-true-underdog-story-which-opens-on-friday
http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/17/interview-ben-stiller-and-christine-taylor?page=3
http://madeinatlantis.com/movies_central/2004/dodgeball_production_details.htm

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is deemed to be accurate and true to the best of our knowledge. All data and information provided on this site is for informational/entertainment purposes only. If there are any inaccuracies, you may submit corrections and sources by visiting our Contact page. Nevada Film Office makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. We do not sponsor or endorse anyone in our posts nor do we receive compensation of any kind in exchange for providing information about specific websites or resources unless otherwise noted, so please check for references, business licenses or credentials as you feel necessary.