Movie Review: The Underdoggs

Although the prospect of seeing another attempt at reworking the “Bad News Bears” formula within another sport may feel like it would be a complete failure, the film The Underdoggs, manages to remain somewhat likable and entertaining thanks in large part to a strong ensemble cast that seems aware of what types of film they are in and exactly what needs to be done to make it work.

The film follows the familiar trope of a washed-up ex-professional athlete Jaycen Jennings (Snoop Dogg) who, after hitting rock bottom, is afforded an opportunity to redeem himself through community service. Service which ultimately leads to a fulfilling character rebirth as that former self-indulgent, hard to get along with, and “lonely” player rediscovers what exactly drew him to the game in the first place.

Director Charles Stone III – perhaps best known for Drumline (2022) and Mr. 3000 (2004) – holds the film together well and paces it economically. But the story – penned by Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis – is often short-changed when affording Jennings a chance to host a podcast chronicling his work with the kids. This exercise, instead of serving as character-building, amounts to little more than unlikable self-indulgence conveyed by Snoop Dogg’s character. In fact, it often plays as though the actor wasn’t able to be on set for certain scenes, so he was instead filmed in his own backyard and clothes, to “move the plot” along. It works once, but after repeated uses, it grows tedious.

As portrayed by Snoop Dogg, Jennings proves to be a likable character and an occasionally acceptable role model for the kids he is ostensibly mentoring. Love interest Cherise (Tika Sumpter) serves as a reminder to Jennings of what he used to be and how he lost his way. Mike Epps plays Jennings’ childhood friend Kareem as a sort of hopelessly lovable goof that has a heart of gold. Together with the motley crew of children that make up the team under Jennings’ tutelage, they make for an entertaining and occasionally heart-warming family unit.

While The Underdoggs may fumble through the larger complexities of storytelling and narrative logic that are present in better films within the genre, it is a film with its heart in the right place and that allows it to succeed without trying to achieve a level above what it is capable of. It is essentially a “comfort” movie that is neither provocative nor notable, but instead entertains just enough to get by.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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