Baseketball (Widescreen Edition)

My humor is skewed, dry, and cynical at times , so I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! Trey and Matt are a great team!

Basketball, released in 1998, is a big ol' mix of comedy, sports, and La-Z-Boys. The film was inspired by a new sport fresh from the imagination of David Zucker in which all men, regardless of levels of physical fitness, may compete equally. The film has been regarded by critics as one that finds its audience and scores big, but outside that genre, falls a little flat. I enjoyed the movie a lot, and much of the humor is similar to that in "South Park" and "Beer Fest." The movie stars "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker as Doug Remer and Joe Cooper, respectively, Jenny McCarthy and Yvette Denslow, Ernest Borgnine as Ted Denslow, Yasmine Bleeth as Jenna Reed, Dian Bachar as Kenny Scolari, and Trevor Einhorn as Joey Thomas. A good portion of "Baseketball"'s charm comes from the dais of celebrity cameos, including: Al Michaels, Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Reggie Jackson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Dale Earnhardt, to name a few.The movie opens on a flashback of Remer and Coop in the stands of the 1977 World Series. Reggie Jackson is at bat and hits a homer caught by Coop; Coop turns to Remer and proclaims that he will one day, too, be a big sports star. [Flash-Forward to the early 90s] Coop and Remer are in a rut of unemployment and unpaid bills, and what could set that in better than a reunion party with high school friends? Feeling that they haven't matured like their former classmates, Coop and Remer retire to the driveway for beer and baskets when two of the "matured" classmates propose a two-on-two.Not ready to lose ground, Coop and Remer decide they will play only if their opponents agree to the new (nonexistent) "hood" variation of hoops. They make it up as they go along and dub it "Baseketball"--a combination of baseball, basketball/horse, and talking smack. Coop excels at the trash talking and psyches out his opponents at each attempted shot.The only man who could take such verbal abuse, Kenny "Squeak" Scolari, is added to Coop and Remer's team, and the sport grows into a front-lawn sensation in just six months (Coop fashions the official Baseketball ball from a La-Z-Boy recliner; it becomes a recurring theme). The popularity and passionate fan-base begin to attract sponsors including millionaire Ted Denslow who makes a deal with Coop and Remer to form the National Baseketball League (NBL) under the condition that rules are formed which are intended to preserve the integrity of the sport. These rules are a contrast to most professional sports and prohibit player trading, team relocating, and individual player sponsorships.[Flash-Forward to 1997] The sport is in full gear as Denslow's team, the Milwaukee Beers (captained by Coop and Remer) compete in the Denslow Cup. Amid the excitement, and next to his young wife, Yvette, Denslow dies choking on a hot dog. This is the point in the movie where the turmoil begins. Denslow's will bestows ownership of the team to Coop under the condition that the Beers continue winning and take the 1998 Denslow Cup; if they lose, Yvette gains ownership of the Milwaukee Beers meaning that the NBL becomes vulnerable to the antagonist owner of the Dallas Felons, Baxter Cain. Cain has his mind set on dissolving the league-preserving rules mandated by Denslow, and (strange euphemisms aside) Yvette has her mind set on Cain.Cain insinuates to Remer that Coop may be making "team" decisions without consulting the team. The bond between the boys takes another hit when Coop seems to be the front-runner for the affections of Jenna, a counselor for terminally ill children. Cain exploits Coop and Remer's attachment to Jenna by pulling funding for her foundation, and then suggests to Coop and Remer that money could be raised by starting a team clothing line. Against Coop's judgment, the rules start to bend and Remer soaks up sponsorship stardom.The divide between Coop and Remer has weakened the team enough that Cain goes in for his kill just as the Beers take the semifinals. Cain blackmails Coop and Remer demanding that they throw the Denslow Cup or he will expose the foundation-funding clothing line for harsh child labor violations. When wind of the scandal reaches Jenna, she leaves Coop causing him to take his frustration out on Remer. With no girlfriend, team, or best friend, what's a guy to do other than a little PR in Calcutta? After repaired the child labor problem in Calcutta, Coop barely makes it back in time for the Denslow Cup.The rift between Coop and Remer accelerates into the seventh inning; the Beers are losing 16-0 when Squeak offers a motivational speech leading to a make-up between Coop and Remer. Yvette severs ties with Cain just as the Beers start to make their underdog comeback. It's a real clincher until La-Z-Boy blows out, and then it looks like all hope is lost for the Beers and the NBL. Using a replacement ball, Barcalounger, Coop fails to score but manages to `bat' the conversion for a homer. Of course, the two heroes can't be left without ladies, so Jenna comes back to Coop while Yvette and Remer "lay-carpet." As if it weren't cliché enough, the movie comes back around to the beginning when Reggie Jackson congratulates Coop for the win and gives luck for 1999.

Pure 90s humor at its best!

I think a lot of people take this movie seriously, which was the exact opposite of what it is. Its a funny, sarcastic comedy that's just made for laughs. No need to think too hard about it.

More historically accurate than FDR's good guy portrayal in Annie.

hilarious movie, but i wouldn't expect anything less from matt and trey!

Such a classic!!! Was laughing the whole time.

this is worth watching just to see Trey parker throw down his Cartman voice from South ParkErnest Borgnine choking to death on a damn hot dog; THAT is messed up ;but then again sorta cool in a messed sorat way ...right?

BASEketball is a very funny late 90s comedy from the director of Airplane! and The Naked Gun starring the creators of South Park.The UK Blu Ray release is weak but for £8.99 I'm happy with the purchase and its good to support smaller companies who release gems like this.Picture quality looks OK. Colours are strong but overall PQ seems soft. Sound is stereo and Surround PCM and sounds fine to me.There are no special features but disc does have English subtitles. Disc is Region B locked. I appreciate that the cover features the original movie poster. Comes in a plastic clear case that is used by 101Films and Signal One.Case is regular blu ray size but the sleeve itself is bigger as the top part with the Blu Ray logo is missing.There is no real need to upgrade your DVD version but at £8.99 you could do worse plus the film is very funny and still worth your time!

OK, so before I begin allow me to admit my guilty secret, I bought this solely because Trey makes nice eye candy! When the video got to my front door I went straight to my VCR and begun to watch and I cannot tell you how much I laughed!My brother came into my room a few times thinking I was going mad I was laughing so much, this is such a funny film, even the bit where Matt and Tret snog. Seriously, if you thought Parker and Stone were just South Park just take a few minutes to watch this movie, I mean the videos only like £5 so it's not really gonna break the bank, but it's so worth it.From the crazy acting to the mad script this film is fantastic and even has Yasmine Bleeth and Jenny McCarthy for the lads. It really is a great film and gives Parker and Stone a real chance to show off their acting ability, which they do and do well. Trey's manic facial expressions will crack you up.Check out Baseketball and you'll be hooked, and singing "Warts on my d*ck" as you drive for the rest of the day!

If you like SouthPark and Police Academy type humour with sport involved then this wilbe funny to u.

Recommended!

i just gotta say that this is the best comidy i have seen in a long time! this film is so fuuny, as the the game that they play is a cross between baseball and basketball. they have all the rules of the two games and a few of there own like, you can put off your opponent with any means possible!and the things they do are so funny, i really recommend this to any one that love humor!