The Underdoggs delivers laugh out loud humor while simultaneously dropping emotional beats that will have you in your feels.
We have all seen the underdog story film before, but not like this. Snoop Dogg absolutely shines surrounded by a cast of incredible young actors in The Underdoggs. This story is not only going to make you absolutely laugh out loud, but it is also going to tug at your heart strings.
In The Underdoggs, Snoop Dogg plays a retired football player, Jaycen “Two Js” Jennings, who is ordered to do community service. At the time he has no idea how much this will change his life. He comes across his old flame Cherise, played by Tika Sumpter, and ends up coaching a pee-wee football team.
What starts as a way to simply win back the girl of his dreams ends up taking him on a journey towards compassion and redemption.
The movie itself has a serious Bad News Bears vibe where it pushes the envelope time and time again. These kids are absolutely hilarious as they cuss and say things. No adult should watch a child say.
Part of what makes this film work as well as it does is the kids. You never know when you get child actors, and this movie has a lot of them. However each and every one of them is not only extremely talented, they are clearly in their element having the best time. Their comedic timing and mannerisms are spot on, making it impossible not to crack up as they cuss away.
At the same time, they do a wonderful job on the field, showing that they put in the work to learn football and the moves they would be performing for the camera. When it comes to the emotional stuff, they nail that too. Just try not to get choked up, I dare you!
Snoop Dogg is the perfect choice for the lead in this film for many reasons. Not only is he a fantastic actor, he has a soft spot for kids football. He coaches his youth team, Snoop’s Steelers, in the Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL). The SYFL was set up by Snoop Dogg in 2005 as an after school program in the Los Angeles area to keep kids stay focused on their goals.
In other words, this film was right up his alley. Of course, his character Jaycen is a bit rough around the edges when we first see him, but eventually he becomes just as lovable as Snoop himself.
Snoop and Mike Epps, who plays his friend Kareem, have incredible chemistry. The two are absolutely hilarious together and we can’t help but wonder how much of what we see on screen is just them riffing together. At the same time, Snoop and Tika work together well. The casting in this movie should be applauded for sure.
Overall, The Underdoggs is sure to surprise most viewers. That isn’t to say it doesn’t look fun, because it does. However, there is no way to prepare how this film is simultaneously hilarious, inspiring, and emotional. While parts of it are predictable, it has a few surprises in store for the audience.
When it comes to the football aspect of the movie, it is easy to root for this team of underdogs. Suddenly viewers will find themselves invested in the outcome of the games. That said, The Underdoggs isn’t just for those that love a sports movie, there is so much heart weaved into the story that it truly has something for everyone.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
NEXT: Snoop Dogg Talks The Underdoggs On The Red Carpet
About The Underdoggs
Jaycen “Two Js” Jennings (Snoop Dogg) is a washed-up ex-professional football star who has hit rock bottom. When Jaycen is sentenced to community service coaching the Underdoggs, an unruly pee-wee football team in his hometown of Long Beach, California, he sees it as an opportunity to rebuild his public image and turn his life around.
As Jaycen works to transform the foul-mouthed Underdoggs into top-notch champions, he reconnects with his past, including an old flame and few of his ex-teammates and rediscovers his love of the game.
