Beer League (2006)

An unemployed slacker inspires his softball teammates to improve their game so they won't get kicked out of the local league.

Director:

Frank Sebastiano

Writers:

Frank Sebastiano, Artie Lange

Stars:

Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio, Anthony DeSando

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Artie Lange	...	Artie DeVanzo
Ralph Macchio	...	Maz
Anthony DeSando	...	Dennis Mangenelli
Cara Buono	...	Linda Salvo
Jimmy Palumbo	...	Johnny Trinno
Joe Lo Truglio	...	Dave
Jerry Minor	...	Tim
Seymour Cassel	...	Dirt
Michael Deeg	...	Alfonse
Laurie Metcalf	...	Artie's Mom
Elizabeth Regen	...	Gina
Maddie Corman	...	Marilyn
Frank Pellegrino	...	Gina's Dad
Daniel Tay	...	Max
Keren Gilbert	...	Vicki Galliotta

Storyline

Beer, broads and baseball: a group of misfits whose weekly softball games seem to have a lot more to do with getting into fights for macho dominance than hitting home runs. Artie is an unemployed and unmotivated drunk that is predictably still living with his mother. He is on a losing softball team, and he and his teammates are facing the end of softball as they know it if they can't pull it together. When love enters his life, it unexpectedly alters Artie's low self-esteem, and the odds for winning, not only the league trophy, but a new life, are certainly looking up. He and his teammates will have to go for the win.

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Plot Keywords:

softball | baseball | beer | slacker | baseball movie | 

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Taglines:

His team has the biggest balls in the league.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for non-stop language including strong sexual references, sexuality, nudity and drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Artie Lange's Beer League

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$275,606, 17 September 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$475,000, 24 September 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Identity Films (I),CKRush Entertainment,Beer League Holdings

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laurie Metcalf plays Artie Lange's mother, despite being only 8 years older.

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Goofs

During the first game scene, Dirt's uniform changes from a t-shirt to a pro style button down, then back to a shirt.

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Quotes

Johnny Trinno: [giving the toast at Maz's wedding] So to recap, throughout it all, there's been a lot of laughter, and a few tears. But in the end the clouds parted, and the good Lord himself decided it was meant to be. And that's how I finished the regular season batting .706.

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Crazy Credits

Deleted scenes and outtakes are shown during the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Howard Stern on Demand: Joey G Phoner/Live (2006)

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Soundtracks

Bulldog Skin
Written by Robert Pollard
Performed by Guided By Voices (as Guided by Voices)
Courtesy of Matador Records

User Reviews

Good way to kill an hour and a half

It's amazing when people get on a website and rip a movie like "Beer League" as if they were expecting "Citizen Kane" when they went to the movies. Beer League involves the heated rivalry between two men's softball teams in New Jersey; Ed's Beer and Swill (featuring Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio and assorted others) and Manganelli Construction, a four time league champion. After yet another collective trip to the police station following a brawl, it is decided the team with the worst record between the two at season's end will be thrown out of the league. Lange & Company band together and show resolve to reach the title game vs.Manganelli. Guess who wins?

I thought the movie was funny- even hilarious in spots. Beer League never tries to be anything other than what it is; a bawdy comedy with plenty of crude humor, sexual misconduct and vulgarity. Little was required in the acting department, as Lange is essentially playing himself. Fans of his stand-up act and Howard Stern appearances will not be disappointed. There are welcome cameos by Sopranos bit player Frank Pellegrino and series regular Joseph Gannascoli. And Seymour Cassel turns in a great performance as the team's old, foul-mouthed pitcher, Dirt.

Lange's real life drug and alcohol use- parodied and boasted about in nearly everything he does- will hopefully not have tragic consequences as it has for so many others in the world of comedy. This movie works, however, and is good for a few belly laughs along the way.