Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Abbigail Bush
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
Erica Derrick
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Michael_Elliott
Beer League (2006) *** (out of 4)Artie DeVanzo (Artie Lange) is a thirty-five year old loser who still lives at home with his mother. He doesn't work and the only thing he does is drink and play in a local softball group. His lifelong battle is against Dennis Mangenelli (Anthony DeSando), the good-looking man who has everything including the best softball team. After one failure after another, Artie tries to rally his team into being the best in the league.BEER LEAGUE is a film that is going to appeal to fans of Artie Lange. If you're a fan of his from the Howard Stern show then you'll remember how there was an on-going battle about Lange wanting time off from the show to do this movie. It was meant to be a dream project for Lange and he got the film made but it barely got a release and it turned into a pretty big diappointment at the box office. Over the years it has gained a cult following and rightfully so.There's no question that fans of Lange are going to enjoy this movie. If you're looking for high art or some sort of film with a message then you're certainly not going to find that here. This here is basically NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE set in the softball league and you get various gross bits of comedy and of course it's politically incorrect. For me I thought the film was very funny for what it was but then again I'm a fan of Lange.I think Lange is certainly the best thing about the picture and especially since he plays this loveable loser so well. This is the type of big-hearted loudmouth role that Lange was born to play and he perfectly knows how to write himself. There are a lot of sexist and racist bits of humor but that's exactly what we got out of Lange on the Stern show. Ralph Macchio, Cara Buono, Laurie Mecalf and the various other actors playing the softball buddies are all very good as well.BEER LEAGUE certainly isn't going to win any major awards but for a raunchy comedy it works. What I wanted out of a film like this was laughs and it delivered plenty of them.
Nick Goodwin (thegoods7)
this movie is hilarious. It really brings about real people in real life situations. Artie Lange is the best thing in this movie he really makes you laugh the entire time being an alcoholic and playing softball. if you've ever played in a slow pitch softball league there are people who are just like him out there and you can really relate to it while watching the movie. New yorkers playing softball doesn't sound to funny but with Artie Lange and Ralph Macchio it couldn't be any funnier. there are some parts that might offend some people so be aware of that. if you're just looking for something to sit back to and just have a good laugh with some friends this is the movie.
Steve Pulaski
Any movie can make a guy laugh, but for a guy to think about that joke one hundred or more times and still laugh at it is an accomplishment (the joke is in the diner about the "Happy Waitress Special"). This has got to be one of the funniest films I've seen this year, it may even be better than The Hangover. Beer League received horrible reviews and an awful gross when in theaters for the brief run it had. While at the same time it doesn't deserve the bad reviews, its a movie that critics will hate so my reaction to the reviews isn't shocked.Beer League is a movie that has a message that is something like "Who cares about the critics? Lets make a balls out Comedy for middle age men who love softball, drinking, and friends." Which is why its funny. It has a combination of stupid jokes, racist jokes, and some funny gay humor, that maybe offensive, but its not meant to be taken personal. Nothing about this movie is supposed to be.Artie DeVanzo (Lange) is a 35 year old low life, still living with his mother, and playing a loser softball team that cant be taken serious. After a recent argument with the opposing softball team, they must win the championship or find another league to play in. Along the way they uncover obstacles like the team's laziness and intoxication the way through. The team includes an Italian, a sports fanatic, a crazed lunatic who has home troubles, and the Karate Kid himself. So the team's got potential...kind of.The whole humor stems from Artie Lange in this movie. He wrote, produced, and stars in the movie. Hes the best and has some killer one liners. Not being an Artie Lange fan and having this be the first thing I watched with him in it I had no idea what I was expecting. The whole thing maybe one slapstick induced, no point one liner after another, but the movie is full of slapstick induced, no point one liner after another that are hilarious. Which is why Beer League is in a league of it's own.Starring: Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio, Laurie Metcalf, and Anthony DeSando. Directed by: Frank Sebastiano
ramsfan
It's amazing when people get on a website and rip a movie like "Beer League" as if they were expecting "Citizen Kane" when they went to the movies. Beer League involves the heated rivalry between two men's softball teams in New Jersey; Ed's Beer and Swill (featuring Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio and assorted others) and Manganelli Construction, a four time league champion. After yet another collective trip to the police station following a brawl, it is decided the team with the worst record between the two at season's end will be thrown out of the league. Lange & Company band together and show resolve to reach the title game vs.Manganelli. Guess who wins? I thought the movie was funny- even hilarious in spots. Beer League never tries to be anything other than what it is; a bawdy comedy with plenty of crude humor, sexual misconduct and vulgarity. Little was required in the acting department, as Lange is essentially playing himself. Fans of his stand-up act and Howard Stern appearances will not be disappointed. There are welcome cameos by Sopranos bit player Frank Pellegrino and series regular Joseph Gannascoli. And Seymour Cassel turns in a great performance as the team's old, foul-mouthed pitcher, Dirt.Lange's real life drug and alcohol use- parodied and boasted about in nearly everything he does- will hopefully not have tragic consequences as it has for so many others in the world of comedy. This movie works, however, and is good for a few belly laughs along the way.