The Benchwarmers (2006)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers (WGA):

Allen Covert (written by) &
Nick Swardson (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Get off the bench and get into the game.

Plot:

A trio of guys try and make up for missed opportunities in childhood by forming a three-player baseball team to compete against standard little league squads.

Plot Keywords:

Team | Baseball | Bully | Baseball Player | Paperboy

Awards:

5 nominations

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 (as Joey Gnoffo)
Jackie Sandler	...	Female Customer
Ray Nicholson	...	Kid Catcher #1 Game #2
Jared Sandler	...	Autograph Kid
Terry Crews	...	Poker Guy #1
Rachel Hunter	...	Hot Mother
Patrick Schwarzenegger	...	Jock Kid Game #3
Dan Patrick	...	Poker Guy #2 A.K.A. O'Malley
Robert S. Frank	...	Spock Lookalike
John Kirk	...	Hobbit
Rob Moore	...	Poker Guy #3 (as Rob S. Moore)
James Earl Jones	...	Darth Vader (voice)
Max Prado	...	Nelson
Dennis Dugan	...	Coach Bellows
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
Michael Westphal	...	Kid Umpire
Chipps Cooney	...	Old Man
Irene Roseen	...	Elderly Woman
Judith Drake	...	Mrs. Johnson
Earl Skakel	...	Outhouse Guy
Gloria Payne	...	Smitten Mother
Michael Venit	...	Kid Catcher Game #5
Gerry Del Sol	...	Umpire
David Haddad	...	Umpire
Chillie Willie Smith	...	Umpire
Blake Clark	...	Umpire
Brooke Langton	...	Kathy Dobson
Ron Masak	...	Principal
Mary Jo Catlett	...	Mrs. Ellwood
J.J. Darwish	...	Goth Kid
Lochlyn Munro	...	Ultimate Home Remodel Host
Matthew Willig	...	Jock Guy
DJ Evans	...	Little Nerdy Kid
Alastair Douglas	...	Carlos' Son
Cleo King	...	Lady Customer
Luke Franco	...	Baseball Fan #1
David Agdaian	...	First Baseman
Bob Sexton	...	Karl's Assistant Coach
Gary Hartunian	...	Dad Umpire
Jonathan Wachter	...	Brookdale Team Captain
Gus Aukuso Puluti	...	Nerd Vendor
Kimberly Jackson	...	Baseball Fan #3
Madison McGolgan	...	Benchwarmer Fan #2
Joseph R. Sicari	...	Hot Dog Vendor
Blake Hogue	...	Nerd Fan Game #4
Rich Burris	...	Umpire Game #3
Michael Moore	...	Candia Assistant Coach
Tom Silardi	...	Candia Coach
Erick Keays	...	Nerd Vendor #2
Elle Schneider	...	Goth Kid's Girlfriend (as Ellie Schneider)
Abbi Butler	...	Pizza Hut Employee
Mesha Kussman	...	Hot Dog Customer
Wyking Jones	...	Umpire #5
Darryl K. Miller Sr.	...	Umpire #6 Game #6
Robert Harvey	...	Umpire #7
Gabriel Pimentel	...	Little Man (as Gabriel Pimental)
Jack Platner	...	Wayne's Team, 2nd Baseman
Joey Singleton	...	Wayne's Team, Center Fielder
Nolan Sax	...	Wayne's Team, Shortstop
Stephen F. Andrich	...	Umpire #8 (as Stephen Andrich)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aleksandr Akulov	...	Nerd Fan (uncredited)
Jack Anthony	...	Nerd 4 Life (uncredited)
Jodi Benker	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Kelly Cramer	...	Autograph Girl (uncredited)
William Daniels	...	K.I.T.T. (voice) (uncredited)
Edward J. Franklin	...	Nerd Fan (uncredited)
Vicki Goldsmith	...	Jock (uncredited)
Colby Greening	...	Scoreboard Kid (uncredited)
Dalon Huntington	...	Nerd Fan (uncredited)
Mike Kohl	...	Nerd Fan (uncredited)
Noel Petok	...	Nerd 4 Life (uncredited)
Kristin Quick	...	Kristen (uncredited)
Anne Marie Sanguigni	...	Kissing Girl (uncredited)
Brittany M. Wildman	...	Nerd Fan (uncredited)
Jed Williams	...	Nerd 4 Life (uncredited)

Directed by
Dennis Dugan

Writing credits (WGA)
Allen Covert		(written by) &
Nick Swardson		(written by)

Produced by
Barry Bernardi	....	executive producer
Allegra Clegg	....	executive producer
Derek Dauchy	....	co-producer
Jack Giarraputo	....	producer
Adam Sandler	....	producer
Nick Swardson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Waddy Wachtel

Cinematography by
Thomas E. Ackerman

Film Editing by
Peck Prior
Sandy S. Solowitz

Casting by
Anne McCarthy
Jay Scully

Production Design by
Perry Andelin Blake

Art Direction by
Alan Au
Jeffrey Mossa

Costume Design by
Mary Jane Fort

Makeup Department
Felicity Bowring	....	key makeup artist
Corrina Duran	....	makeup artist
Rose Librizzi	....	makeup artist: Mr. Schneider
Ann Pala	....	makeup department head (as Ann Pala Taylor)
Thomas Real	....	hair department head
Nancy Tong	....	hair stylist (as Nanxy Tong-Heater)
Larry Waggoner	....	hair stylist: Mr. Schneider
Michelle Webb	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Allegra Clegg	....	unit production manager
Daren Hicks	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eugene Davis	....	additional second assistant director
Hope Garrison	....	second assistant director
Melinda Johnson	....	second second assistant director
Dennis M. White	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Chris Alvarez	....	welding foreman
Greg Benge	....	set dresser
Tony Bohorquez	....	lead model maker
Max E. Brehme	....	property master
David B. Clark	....	paint gang boss
John Collins	....	assistant art director
Warren Drummond	....	storyboard artist
James Dupuy	....	head plasterer
Brad Good	....	assistant property master
Will Grant	....	assistant property master
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	stand-by painter
Mark Kelly	....	props assistant
Scott W. Leslie	....	assistant property master
Sean Lira	....	set dresser
Lyle Maves	....	plasterer gang boss
Skyler Ng	....	art department assistant
David C. Potter	....	leadman
Jaime Ramirez	....	art production assistant
Tommy Samona	....	second leadman
Hugo Santiago	....	leadman set designer
Doug Sieck	....	set dresser
Chad Simpson	....	paint gangboss
John Snow	....	head painter
Richard Blake Wester	....	second lead person
Timothy S. Wiles	....	property master
Jason Bartolone	....	propmaker (uncredited)
William Eliscu	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph F. Brennan	....	boom operator
Jeremy Brill	....	sound
Kerry Ann Carmean	....	sound effects editor
Thomas Causey	....	sound mixer
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor
Richard Kite	....	utility sound
Howard London	....	adr mixer
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor
Greg Orloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Orloff	....	supervising sound mixer
Kelly Oxford	....	supervising adr editor
Michelle Pazer	....	dialogue editor
Lenny Rabinowitz	....	adr recording engineer
David Stanke	....	first assistant sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Matthew E. Taylor	....	sound effects recordist
Lieven Van Hulle	....	sound utility
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	supervising sound editor
Scott Wolf	....	sound designer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Enrique Bilsland	....	mechanical designer
Chris Walkowiak	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Sean Kennedy	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Vision Productions

Stunts
Christopher 'Critter' Antonucci	....	stunt performer
Joni Avery	....	stunts
Michael H. Barnett	....	stunts
Sean Bowers	....	stunt double
Zane Cassidy	....	stunts
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts
Michael Cody	....	stunts
Danny Downey	....	stunt double: David Spade
Danny Downey	....	stunts
Cody Gilbert	....	stunts
Tim Gilbert	....	stunts
Gary Guercio	....	stunt coordinator (as Gary L. Guercio)
Gary Guercio	....	stunt double: Rob Schneider
Gilbert Reid Harper	....	stunts
Reid Harper	....	stunt double
Shawn Kautz	....	stunts
Oakley Lehman	....	stunts
Allan Padelford	....	stunts
Tarah Paige	....	stunts
Jarret Reid	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunt double: Jon Lovitz
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen F. Andrich	....	director of photography: second unit
Russell Ayer	....	electrician
Craig Bauer	....	film loader
Erik Bernstein	....	electrician
Walter Byrnes	....	grip rigger
Jack Chouchanian	....	key grip
Joe Chouchanian	....	grip
Alan Colbert	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Toby Conroy	....	camera production assistant
Alan R. Disler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Linda Gacsko	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Harry K. Garvin	....	Steadicam operator
Harry K. Garvin	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Raymond Gonzales	....	rigging gaffer
Andrew B. Horton	....	lighting technician
Steele Hunter	....	key rigging grip
Sebastian Jungwirth	....	associate director of photography
Kevin Kallen	....	grip
David Katz	....	digital video assist operator
Joe Kelly	....	key grip: visual effects
Joe Macaluso	....	best boy grip
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician
Darren Michaels	....	unit still photographer
Rob Monroy	....	assistant camera
Michael Nie	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Ray Patrick	....	super technocrane operator
Joe A. Ponticelle	....	first assistant camera
Raman Rao	....	gaffer
Mike Schwake	....	grip
Monte Swann	....	24 frame video operator
Jeffrey Thorin	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera
Tommy Tieche	....	second assistant camera
Richard Turner	....	additional camera operator
Michael Wahl	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Ajay Dass	....	extras casting
Kellie Gesell	....	casting assistant
Kimberly Mullen	....	casting: Florida
Mark Mullen	....	casting: Florida
Julie Weissman	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Antonitta Barnes	....	set costumer
Steve Constancio	....	set costumer
Joe Diaz	....	set costumer
Jessica Fasman	....	costume supervisor
Suzy Magnin	....	costumer
Tisha D. Nagel	....	costume production assistant (as Tisha Jahnke)
Andrea Napier	....	set costumer
Ángela Núñez	....	key costumer
Damien Quinn	....	set costumer
Ivory Stanton	....	costume ager/dyer

Editorial Department
Patsy Bouge	....	post-production
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Andy Kaplan	....	digital intermediate producer
Siobhan Prior	....	assistant editor
Desireh Sedaghat	....	editorial production assistant
J.J. Titone	....	apprentice editor: film

Music Department
Bryan Bonwell	....	music supervisor
Caesars	....	performer: song "Jerk It Out"
Michael Dilbeck	....	music supervisor
J.J. George	....	music editor
Stuart Grusin	....	music editor
Gina Zimmitti	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
Rob Byer	....	driver
Matthew DeAmicis	....	driver
Doug Dovichi	....	driver
Bruce Hathaway	....	driver
Rita Lundin	....	transportation
Doug S. MacLean	....	driver
George R. Matejka	....	driver
Jim Moores	....	driver
Tina Peterson	....	driver
Brenda Ryan	....	driver

Other crew
Timothy Adams	....	trainer: Mr. Schneider (as Tim Adams)
Carlos A. Aragon	....	assistant location manager
Daniel Beals	....	production assistant
Scott Bigbee	....	location scout
Michelle D. Camero	....	assistant: Mr. Dugan
Cory Cate	....	production assistant
Kate Chase	....	location assistant
Michael Cicone	....	baseball coach: Mr. Schneider
Scott Cler	....	assistant production coordinator
Ralph Coleman	....	location manager
Adam Conroy	....	assistant: Mr. Schneider
John Cromwell	....	production assistant
Tova Dann	....	production assistant
Andrew Dauchy	....	assistant to director
Harper Dill	....	production assistant
Mandi Dillin	....	location assistant
J.D. Donaruma	....	assistant: Mr. Sandler
Michael Dorner	....	payroll accountant
Eric Dow	....	production assistant
Mark Robert Ellis	....	sports coordinator
Gino Falla	....	assistant accountant
Rob Frank	....	key assistant location manager
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Orlando R. Gonzales	....	first assistant production coordinator
Katherine Gourley	....	assistant: Mr. Bernardi
Amanda Harrington	....	assistant to location scout
Noessa Higa	....	assistant: Mr. Bernardi
Lindsay Hudson	....	medic
Spencer Jambor	....	photo double: David Spade (as Spencer Jambor)
Nancy Karlin	....	script supervisor
Jeff Ketcham	....	production assistant
Cody Klop	....	adr voice
Mesha Kussman	....	assistant: Mr. Dugan
Eric La Barr	....	photo double: Jon Heder (as Eric Labarr)
Tom Lackey	....	location scout
Ron Landry	....	production assistant
Cary Sato Lee	....	craft service
Evan Liss	....	medic
Sean Madaras	....	assistant: Mr. Giarraputo
Caroline Mah	....	production assistant
Isaiah Guyman Martin IV	....	production assistant
Aimee McDaniel	....	baseball coordinator
Grant Myers	....	assistant: Mr. Dauchy
Jennifer Perkins	....	assistant: Mr. Sandler (as Jennifer Masters)
Shane Ralston	....	stand-in: Jon Lovitz
Mike Ribaudo	....	baseball coach
Tammy Sandler	....	unit publicist
Jill Sayre	....	adr loop group
Jim Schiro	....	assistant accountant
Charlie Scott	....	key craft service
Todd Silverman	....	baseball double: Mr. Schneider
Linda Stanley	....	studio teacher
Cheryl A. Stone	....	production accountant
Hirotatsu Taniguchi	....	set production assistant: re-shoot
Jeremy Tate	....	assistant: Mr. Giarraputo
Billy Taylor	....	production assistant
Brian Taylor	....	production assistant
Duffy Taylor	....	key assistant location manager
Chris Titone	....	production assistant
Ken Twohy	....	production assistant
Tom Vicini	....	stand-in
Tom Vicini	....	utility stand-in
Tony Whitmore	....	supervising medic
Shawn Williamson	....	production assistant
Cory Johnson	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Revolution Studios
• Happy Madison Productions

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006-2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (opticals)
• Stan Winston Studio (animatronic robot effects)
• Pacific Vision Productions (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer
• Filmtools  expendables
• Manhattan Transfer  adr facility
• Molinare Studio  international deliverables
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• ReelSports Solutions  sports coordination
• Sportsrobe  costumes

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, and for language.

Runtime:

80 min | Philippines:75 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Australia:PG | Ireland:12A | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42005) | Philippines:PG-13 | Hungary:14 | Finland:K-11 | Iceland:10 | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:PG

Filming Locations:

Chino Hills, California, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider" (1982) makes an appearance.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first tournament game, when Gus is saying he needs to get the other guys involved more, the black kid who almost gets the grand slam at the end of the game is up. When Gus turns around to pitch, the boy has changed to a different boy.

Quotes:

Gus: [to Nelson] Hey. Are you the kid who got farted on earlier?
Mel: Yes. This is my son Nelson. He's become quite the fart magnet for the neighborhood bullies.
Nelson: I also get a healthy smear of animal turds twice daily.
Clark: When I was your age, Fairy Jerry dumped a bucket of dog poop on me.
Nelson: His son just did that to me last week.

Movie Connections:

References The Final Cut (2004)

Soundtrack:

That's Good

Silly and Gross

When the owner of a minor landscaping service company Gus (Rob Schneider) sees the nerd Nelson (Max Prado) being abused by a group of baseball players, he defends the boy. The paperboy Clark (Jon Heder) tells that his friend Richie (David Spade) and he have never played baseball and Gus invites them to play in the late afternoon. However, they are challenged by the bullies and they defeat the guys. The millionaire and father of Nelson, Mel (Jon Lovitz), invites Gus, Clark and Richie to form a team called The Benchwarmers and they become the sensation of the league, with a legion of outcast cheering for the team. However, when the behavior of Gus in his childhood is discovered, the team and fans are affected.

I am a great fan of Rob Schneider, but "The Benchwarmers" is a silly and gross comedy. I know that his movies uses low level jokes and situations, but they are usually hilarious. Unfortunately the jokes in "The Benchwarmers" are not funny. Further, I am not a fan of baseball but I believe that even fans of this sport will not like this stupid and deceptive story. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Os Esquenta-Banco" ("The Benchwarmers")