Going into The Underdoggs, I harbored low expectations, anticipating yet another formulaic tale of triumph against all odds. You know, the typical underdog story. In this case, it’s a former NFL player trying to relaunch his career who must coach a youth rugby team to avoid prison. With a cast and crew devoid of big names – at least in the cinema realm – I hoped for a narrative that wouldn’t leave me regretting the decision to invest time in it. Sadly, even though Charles Stone III (Uncle Drew) avoids the lowest pits of mediocrity, the filmmaker also fails to rise above the generic trappings of the respective genre, besides exponentially aggravating levels of profanity.

The Underdoggs Critique

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The Underdoggs unfolds predictably, lacking the creativity necessary to truly captivate a seasoned viewer of underdog narratives. However, that’s not a major, unexpected issue, much on the contrary. Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis are responsible for the extremely shallow screenplay that falls into a pretty common storytelling trap: it navigates sensitive topics with a troubling lack of depth, skimming over the struggles of its characters from underprivileged backgrounds. Instead of delving into their experiences, the film spends more time on the protagonist’s opulent mansion, a static setting that fails to demonstrate how much the character supposedly changed throughout the runtime, than with the young kids, who share a myriad of personal and familial issues.

The redemption arc at the core of The Underdoggs follows a disappointingly linear trajectory, devoid of the nuance necessary for genuine character growth. Rather than undergoing a gradual transformation, the protagonist’s change feels forced, driven more by plot convenience than authentic development. His purported altruism in the final act rings hollow, overshadowed by the fame-driven motivations that propel his earlier actions. Moreover, the portrayal of the protagonist’s former girlfriend is marred by dated, superficial writing – she’s barely more than an ex-girlfriend who still looks attractive to the protagonist years after their relationship.

The incessant profanity peppered throughout the dialogue further diminishes the movie’s appeal, rendering it almost unsuitable for family viewing. From underage drinking – this is the nicest way to put it; it’s pretty wild, actually – to relentless swearing, The Underdoggs sends more negative messages than positive ones, alienating a potentially broader audience. One of those cases where it starts amusingly, and then it just becomes intolerable. Technically, the off-sync ADR definitely becomes way too noticeable.

However, amidst these shortcomings, performances across the board are surprisingly decent, including that of Snoop Dogg (Day Shift). The rugby sequences emerge as The Underdoggs‘ saving grace, capturing the excitement and fun of youth competitions. The chemistry between the kids is the clear highlight of an otherwise forgettable flick.

IN Conclusion

The Underdoggs ultimately fails to justify a recommendation. It’s just too many issues to overlook in an already quite generic, formulaic underdog story that never convinces the viewer of the protagonist’s redemptive, altruistic behavior. The chemistry between the kids is definitely fun and charming to witness, but the non-stop profanity, a crazy alcohol-stimulated sequence, and so many other terrible messages for young audiences make this movie one to avoid.

3/10

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