The Benchwarmers (2006)

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

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Allen Covert, Nick Swardson

Stars:

David Spade, Jon Heder, Rob Schneider

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Reggie Jackson

Storyline

Three guys, all their lives, have been living in the shadow of bullies and are determined not to take it anymore. Now they must train with the help of Mel to take on the most offensive and meanest youth baseball teams.

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Plot Keywords:

millionaire | baseball movie | big house | husband wife relationship | baseball stadium | 

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Taglines:

Get off the bench and get into the game.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Bankdrücker

Filming Locations:

Chino Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$33,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,656,429, 9 April 2006, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$57,651,794, 21 May 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Studios,Happy Madison Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 75 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The issue with the player with the fake birth certificate really happened. Danny Almonte, originally from the Dominican Republic, playing for a U.S. team from New York City was found to be too old. He was actually fourteen, not twelve, the cut-off age. He had a forged birth certificate. His team had won their regional competition and were eliminated in the semifinals of the Little League World Series but, as a result of the scandal, the entire team was disqualified, had their records erased, and the coach banned for life from Little League baseball.

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Goofs

Number 7 says Mel's last name is Carmichael but Mel says to that his last name is Schmegmer.

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Quotes

Richie: Dude. You smell like beer.
Carlos: You look like beer.

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Alternate Versions

Originally, the end credit sequence had a series of alternate takes, outtakes and deleted scenes. These were removed for the DVD release and were restored for its airings on the STARZ Network.

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Connections

References The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

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Soundtracks

Gasolina
Written by Daddy Yankee (as Ramon Ayala) and Eddie Avila
Performed by Daddy Yankee
Courtesy of El Cartel Records

User Reviews

One of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time!

I can't figure out why everyone's being so hard on this movie. It isn't often I can go to a comedy at the theater and actually laugh out loud. However, when I saw this movie this weekend, I wasn't the only one who was laughing, and I mean often. There were times the audience was laughing so much I had trouble hearing the dialog.

This is, simply put, a movie about three guys, almost over the hill, who decide to play some baseball against real Little League teams in the state. It's not about some grand scheme, it's not about the glory, it's about standing up for those who were always picked last in gym, always called names for not being athletic, it's about the little guy and standing up for the underdog.

I have seen other critiques of this movie and people are complaining about the plot line, the dialog, you name it, there's something wrong with it. Don't go to the movie expecting to see any Oscar moments, they simply aren't there. If all you really want a good laugh though, go see this movie. Bill Romanowski plays a character who makes fun of his "roid rage" while he played football. Jon Heder is "almost" Napolean Dynamite, similar voice, but the character is funnier. David Spade has some issues in his personal life that really steal the show (Think Gir in Invader Zim).

I don't want to say too much more about the movie because it would give away something hilarious. As far as being a waste of my money, I plan to go to a matinée this week so I can see it in a less crowded theater and hear the dialog I missed. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can watch it several more times.

At the end of the movie, the theater cut off the credits for some reason and the people in the audience fussed until they turned them back on. Not a single person left until the last line had rolled on the credits (also funny, stay and watch them).

This is one hilarious movie and it's "...freakin' awesome!"