THE BENCHWARMERS

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (David Spade)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

The windup and the pitch! The crack of the bat! The roar of the crowd! Popcorn, peanuts and crackerjack. Spring and baseball have returned. It’s also time to roll out another baseball-themed movie. Sometimes they are dramatic like EIGHT MEN OUT or THE NATURAL. Sometimes they are fantastic like FIELD OF DREAMS or ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD. But most of the time, they are comedic like MR. BASEBALL, MAJOR LEAGE, and BULL DURHAM. The latest baseball comedy is a tale for all 99-pound weaklings, losers and anybody picked last, and it’s called THE BENCHWARMERS.

I wanted to see THE BENCHWARMERS because, though I love baseball, I too was a benchwarmer. I was the player you put in right field because there wasn’t too much action out there. I was the guy who always struck out (except the time my Dad walked me when he umpired.) I was the little guy, who was laughed at continually. I was the nerd. In fact THE BENCHWARMERS could be called REVENGE OF THE NERDS baseball style.

Here’s the story: Californians Gus (Rob Schnieder) and his two wimpy friends, video store clerk, Richie (David Spade), and paperboy Clark (Jon Heder) form a three man baseball team called “The Benchwarmers�, and challenge bully little league teams to a baseball tournament. The champion team earns the right to call a newly constructed ultra-cool, little league park their home field. As Gus, Richie and Clark crush the bullies and improve their skills, Gus apologies to a midget whom he persecuted in grade school, and children everywhere learn a lesson in love, acceptance, forgiveness, an d fair play. As opposing teams begin to understand that “The Benchwarmers� have heart, their cold hearts soften. They realize winning at all costs doesn’t foster good sportsmanship.

THE BENCHWARMERS is a tale of two teams, a winning team with a winning message and a slacker, writer and director team whose not afraid to go for the cheap laugh with vomit, spit and flatulence emitting generously.

The story and gags have too many errors to count. Why let a three adult man team, play child teams in a legitimate little league tournament? Would Rob Schnieder really avoid his husband responsibilities with a stunning wife played by Molly Sims? Jonathan Heder is in his young 20s compared to the 40-something Schneider and Spade. How can they be childhood friends? Will Hollywood never stop exploiting and making fun of dwarfs and midgets? Does anyone really care to raise or answer these questions? THE BENCHWARMERS was not screened for critics because the producers knew the critics would slam it out of the park of good taste.

THE BENCHWARMERS wins the game of positive message, but loses the tournament of acceptable entertainment. It’s like trying to find a “needle of good� at the bottom of a trash bin. Is it worth digging around through all the garbage to find it? I say “No.� There is no joy in movie-ville, THE “un-mighty� BENCHWARMERS has struck out, (but not before making a tidy profit in its first week, and that’s the reason these movies keep getting made.)

— Overview