“An unconventional
spoof of sports-movie conventions.”
The film begins with the freshmen Panthers in a neck-to-neck
soccer game against the Titans in an intramurals. Lead by Dick Downs (Beck Bennett), the Titans seem to beat the Panthers down. However, Caleb Fuller
(Jake Lacy) pulls a last-minute win for the team. This comes with a price
though – Grant (Nick Kocher), overran by Downs, becomes paralyzed from his
“balls” down. Distraught over their sad victory, the team disbands, vowing
never to play intramural football forever.
Moving four years forward, Caleb is now a fifth year college
senior, preparing for his upcoming law school admission test and unexpected
marriage to his insufferable fiancée Vicky (Kate McKinnon). After a chance
encounter with his old fellow from the Panthers, Caleb seeks a final thrill and
taste of glory. Tracking down his colleagues, he reunites the Panthers and once
again back on the field to play balls.
But this does not come easy as the Titans also come together
to settle a score against them. In the process, Caleb falls for the new girl
Meredith (Nikki Reed) who happens to come from the same uterus as Dick Downs.
Balancing between studies and sports, between a new girl and a nightmare, and
between the hardball commentaries of duo Bill (D.C. Pierson) and Dan (Jay Pharoah), Caleb must overcome his past guilt and bring the bacon home again for the
team.
Balls Out is a
well-constructed slapstick comedy, acknowledging and at the same time making
fun of worn-out sports drama conventions and spoofing popular movies in the
genre. Aside from the loser-to-winner workouts and blood-pumping inspirational soundtracks
and musical score, the film excels in putting an outrageously comical twist on
traditional pre-game speeches. While Dick Downs yells profanities to boost the
morale of his team, Caleb goes sweet and romantic with the Panthers, even
giving an amusing moment of silence for their supposedly dead coach. Other
notable parodies in the movie are Caleb’s unfathomable Rocky-style drawl and
the closing credits showing the destinies of the characters.
Bradley Jackson’s vulgar and witty scripts, as well as
Andrew Disney’s playful and sharp direction, created a clear narrative in the
film, with a bit of a heart and soul. Sexual humor is common in Balls Out, the title not an exception,
yet the absence of nudity and sex scene indicates the film’s non-exploitation
of sex to bring great laughs. The movie has plenty of incredible dialogues
worth quoting. Grant’s “This isn’t about winning. It’s about winning at the
last possible second,” Downs’ “I’m going to rip out your colon and wear it like
a spooky eyepatch,” and Vicky’s “You’re not a man, you’re a bacterium” are
solid one-liners.
The movie’s success is largely due to the winning devotion
of the cast. McKinnon is ironically lovable as the overbearing and bitchy
girlfriend. Her bubbly presence is overpowering and exciting. Lacy pulls off
Caleb effortlessly. His low-key charm and sweet presence defines the perfect
selfless protagonist, typical of sports movie. Lacy also has graceful comic
timing, making him a funny man with an adoring face. All other actors are also
enjoyable and engaging, especially Bennett as the narcissist, racist, sexist,
and homophobic Dick Downs.
Though its jokes wear a little thin at some points, Balls Out is a satisfying and hilarious
homage to sports movie. Its appealing cast, well-written script and clever
direction are makings of a movie destined to be a cult classic.
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