Movie Review - Benchwarmers

Benchwarmers is about three guys, Gus (Rob Schneider), Richie (David Spade) and Clark (Napoleon Dynamite’s own John Heder) who are sick and tired of being bullied and teased. Gus runs his own landscaping company and has a beautiful wife, played by model turned actress Molly Sims. They’re planning on starting a family someday. However, Gus has some secrets he’s keeping.

Gus is also very protective of his friends. He doesn’t like to see people being bullied. Richie and Clark have seen their share of bullies in their lives. Richie, who has a fantastic Dorothy-Hamill bowl-cut from the 70s, works at a video store and has never kissed a girl. He lives in a trailer with his agoraphobic, coiffed-alike brother, Howie (Nick Swardson). Howie eats sunblock and is afraid that the sun is trying to destroy him. Clark is a helmet-wearing, bicycle driving paperboy who still lives with his mother.

One day, Gus watches some bullies pick on a curly-haired little boy named Nelson (Max Prado). He is incensed and comes to the boy’s aid. He challenges the bullying little leaguers to play him and his friends in a ball game for rights to the field. Despite the fact that Richie and Clark have never played baseball in their lives, the trio wins. Nelson tells his dad all about the guys. His dad, Mel, played by Jon Lovitz is a billionaire geek who got picked on as a kid too. He has decided to put his money behind the Benchwarmers.

This project saves Mel from buying more geek paraphernalia such as Star Wars trinkets, the Batman car and ‘Kit’ from Knight Rider. The Benchwarmers will be taking on a bunch of Little League teams in a single-elimination tournament. The prize is a fully-functional baseball field with fantastic amenities like a swimming pool. The field also boasts the best of Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and other ‘legendary’ ballparks.

As the Benchwarmers start to play, geeks across the world resonate with their message. The games are available over the internet, complete with nerdy commentators. The bullies get angry that the geeks are besting them in this competition and start to play dirty. They hire a Central American ball player with depression and an alcohol problem to pose as a 12-year-old boy. The Benchwarmers retaliate by buying him some tequila and beer. Their tactic works best as the Benchwarmers remain undefeated until the championship game.

However, the bullies do find some dirt out about Gus. It seems that Gus, although he’s very short, wasn’t a geek as a child. He was a first-class bully. He was the enemy. He tormented a poor, little person so ruthlessly that the boy went to a mental hospital to try to recover. Gus, who’s wife didn’t know he was playing for the Benchwarmers, sees his story on the news and urges her husband to ask for forgiveness so that he can move on with his life.

He does; but, will the geeks and Benchwarmers forgive him? Will he get to play in the championship game? Will the nerds prevail? watch this movie on Hotstar

This story has a feel-good ending. In fact, the film is pretty feel good throughout. The makers of the film take a message that could be preachy and make it entertaining, funny and fun. I’d highly recommend that you take your kids to this film. It’s great for bully and nerd alike! Admit it - we all were one or the other, right?

Let me know what you think of this movie by adding your comment below.