Echo Bridge Entertainment | 2006 | 86 mins | Rated R | Apr 01, 2008
Beer, broads and softball combine with hilarious results in Artie Lange’s Beer League, an over-the-top comedy about a group of misfits whose weekly softball games descend more into fights for macho dominance than making home runs. When love (Cara Buono) enters Artie’s life, it unexpectedly alters his low self-esteem; and the odds for winning - not only the league trophy, but a new life - are considerably amped along with the comedy and chaos!
It’s appropriate that this extravaganza of lowbrow cinema had its premiere at the 2006 Cinevegas Film Festival, because what happens in Artie Lange’s Beer League should stay in Artie Lange’s Beer League. Lange is most recognizable for his stint in the Mad TV ensemble, but probably more idolized by the people who will get wild kicks from his leading man debut as the resident guest-baiter and booze/scatological/flatulence/sex joke expert on Howard Stern’s radio show. Those are the same kinds of laughs this movie relies on in telling the wisp of a story about a bunch of New Jersey boneheads whose lives are fulfilled by softball games and the beer-guzzling that goes on before, during, and after. Artie’s team is proud to be in the bottom ranks of their league, especially when brawls erupt at games against their slick, archrival team. Artie and the rest of his team know these arrogant jerks in their immaculate black (of course) uniforms are unbeatable, so it’s only natural that Artie thinks its easier to just beat the hell out of them. The local cop who’s had to deal with both teams finally gets so angry with the escalating brawls that he issues an ultimatum: Whichever team loses the season has to disband and never play on the league again.
It’s kind of an utterly tasteless version of The Bad News Bears for people who like their movies vulgar, offensive, misogynistic, and often really funny in spite of it all. Some of the subplots and supporting players include Ralph Macchio as one of Artie’s childhood friends who’s about to get married (cue depraved bachelor party scene with lots of topless babes), Mary Birdsong from Reno 911! as a kooky waitress, and a delightful turn by crusty character actor Seymour Cassel as Artie’s teammate Dirt, who may be old but loves booze, fisticuffs, and debauchery as much as anyone. For some reason, Artie’s foul-mouthed slobbery attracts a local Jersey girl (Cara Buono), even though he’s jobless and still lives with his mom (Laurie Metcalf, who should get some kind of good sport award). The buffoonery doesn’t just stop with the movie. There’s also more than two hour of bonus material tailored for Artie Lange enthusiasts who probably number more than you’d think — whether they’d ever admit it or not.
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Product Details
Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio, Anthony DeSando, Cara Buono, Jimmy Palumbo
Frank Sebastiano
Color, Dolby, Surround Sound, Widescreen
English
English SDH, Spanish
Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
1.85:1
1
Rated R
Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
April 1, 2008
87 minutes
123 Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews
A League of Their Own
By Sky, (New York) - January 29, 2007
Artie Lange’s infamy as a current radio personality on The Howard Stern Show allowed this deservedly straight to DVD film to get into theaters in 2006. Between the box office take and the DVD sales, Beer League might even break even on its $3MM budget. And that speaks volumes to the demographic that would find this film entertaining rather than revolting.
Beer League is not for all Howard Stern fans. There is a hand full of Howard’s listeners that will find Lange’s film very enjoyable. But much of…if not most of…Howard’s audience will cringe at the life of Artie DeVanzo (Lange). One thing is for sure…New Jersey is cringing.
Lange’s character DeVanzo is a jobless low-life that plays to the stereotypical Soprano’s-esque, degenerate, New Jersey native. Do guys like this exist in New Jersey? Sure. Are there small towns where a crew like DeVanzo and his buddies can be found in Jersey. Yes. But do these guys represent the State of New Jersey and most of the people that live there. No way.
But the movie does give the impression that a visit to Northeastern, NJ and the Jersey Shore will reward you with a predominance of obnoxious behavioral displays which couldn’t be farther from the way it really is in the Garden State. (Anyone figure it out by now that I’m born and raised in NJ?)
Okay. Enough about that. The movie…I must admit…was at least watchable. It was as predictable as they come. Antiheroic town boys versus the Jocks. All TV actors giving Saturday Night Live skit caliber performances…albeit R-rated performances. There are some laughs. But mostly this movie is a pointless look into the life of a rude buffoon.
So, if you’re a die-hard Artie fan, you’ll like Beer League a lot. His personality in the movie isn’t that different from what you hear on The Howard Stern Show. And in some strange way, Artie’s contributions seem to work on Howard’s show. But alone…Artie and Beer League are in a league of their own.
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