While there were lots of comedies this year, very few have been much more than a long running play to make the audience laugh at all costs. Dodgeball is guilty as charged.

The premise; the owner of a second rate gym needs money to save his gym and his league of misfits from foreclosure. His competitor across the street door runs a gym that is everything Average Joe’s is not, clean, well equipped and solvent.

In their quest for cash, the members of Average Joe’s stumble upon the idea of playing Dodgeball in a tournament in Las Vegas. The prize as it happens is the exact amount needed to escape foreclosure.

Here’s what works about this movie

1) Characters. There’s a decent motley crew of misfits. Take special note of Rip Torn as their mentor/coach.

2) A real life on screen couple that works. I really believed that Christine Taylor found Ben Stiller’s character repugnant. Obviously they are married in real life.

3) Vince Vaughan. It took Vince a few years before he found his niche in Hollywood and it’s the type of role he plays in Dodgeball and Old School. Tall, slightly goofy with Chevy Chase styled delivery.

4) Premise. The premise is so ridiculous, it’s funny.

This comedy does the trick and it’s almost safe enough for the whole family. There’s a coda after the credits which some may find pushing the boundaries of taste, but by that point most of the audience are stuck in traffic.