Is it a smart idea to let a pair of 11-year-old twins watch the PG-13 rated Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story? In the latest episode of Film at 11, we learn the hard way exactly why parental guidance may be needed for this comedy classic.

I blame the kids’ school for this one. I had originally scheduled to do a podcast episode with just Thomas this week, and I had a very different movie picked out. But then the boys’ school held an after-hours fair event, which included a students-versus-teachers dodgeball match. That put it in my head that maybe a last-minute change to the movie Dodgeball would be fun, and I ought to include both boys in that.

If you watch through to the bloopers at the end of the episode, you can see just a little taste of why recording an episode with both of my sons together is no fun at all for me. I have plenty more outtake footage like that, where the two of them keep egging each other on to ruin take after take after take. I guess that’s just the nature of being 11, but it’s more than a little frustrating for the adult in the room trying to direct an actual conversation from them.

That being the case, we got through it somehow. The movie itself is still fun, though as we discuss in the episode, it really pushes the boundaries of what might be acceptable for kids this age. I’m confident they didn’t come through too scandalized or traumatized.

Title:	Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Year of Release:	2004
Directors:	Rawson Marshall Thurber
Watched On:	Blu-ray
Also Available On:	Various VOD rental and purchase platforms

The Blu-ray

Dodgeball bounced onto Blu-ray in 2008. The title arrived first in the UK in September of that year, followed by an American debut in December. For reasons I can no longer remember, I wound up buying the UK disc. My collection notes indicate that I bought it in October 2008. I suppose that means I just couldn’t wait a couple months for the American release. Or maybe I happened to get it at a really good sale price? I’m not sure. In any event, I bought the disc and didn’t get around to watching it until now.

Although the UK copy makes no mention of it on the packaging, the disc contains the same version of the movie (described as “Unrated” in the United States) as the American Blu-ray. Running about thirty seconds longer than the PG-13 theatrical cut, this very slightly extended version includes a few brief pieces of alternate footage and slightly raunchier line readings in some scenes, but the changes are hardly notable.

Annoyingly, the disc auto-plays the movie right away and has no main menu screen. The high-def transfer is also quite dated, with noticeable edge enhancement and a needlessly gritty appearance. That disappointment acknowledged, the 2.35:1 image is tolerable overall, with fair colors and contrast. It could definitely look a lot better, but the problems are rarely severe enough to distract from the comedy.

I have little to say about the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, which is as adequate as it needs to be, and nothing more. The dialogue is all intelligible. The sound of rubber balls bouncing off walls reflect into the surround channels every once in a while. That’s about it.

The only bonus features are trailers for this movie and for the Ben Stiller vehicle Night at the Museum.

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