By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Why does this movie get such a bad rap? I saw this in the theater and loved it. I’ve watched it probably a dozen times since its release. It gets lukewarm reviews, but I enjoy it nearly as much as AIRPLANE (1980). It’s a fun parody film with a crazy but well-paced plot, great characters and continuous laugh-out-loud moments.
I’ve been a devoted SOUTH PARK fan for over two decades now. It pains me to think it’s been on that long. BASEKETBALL (1998) came out one year later. Maybe the film was just different enough from the cartoon that had exploded onto the scene so it turned enough people off. Still, it’s one that deserves some credit.
The movie opens with twenty-something, unmotivated and jobless Joe (Coop) Cooper (Trey Parker)and his best friend Doug Remer (Matt Stone)going to a party at a former classmates house. They’re not wanted there, they weren’t invited and they become depressed when they see everyone is more successful than they are.
Later, two men from the party come outside and challenge them to a game of basketball. They bet $50 as it becomes clear Joe and Doug have no hope under standard rules. They create a new game combing the shooting of basketball with the rules of baseball. There is also elements of originality including the “psyche out” where one team tries to screw with the other in any way possible to make them lose their shot.
The game, BASEketball becomes huge as other sports kind of suck now. Teams always switch states and cities. The elaborateness and glam of the games scared the competition-seeking audiences away. The allure of something new, fun and with set guidelines to keep players put, BASEketball takes over in a big way.
Coop teams up with Ted Denslow (Ernest Borgnine) who invests money in the game and shares a similar vision. When Denslow dies an unscrupulous businessman, Baxter Cain (Robert Vaughn) comes in and tries to commercialize the sport. Baxter entices Doug causing a massive riff between him and Joe.
Meanwhile, the duo are also competing for the affections of the same girl, Jenna Reed (Yasmine Bleeth). Jenna works with dying kids and Joey (Trevor Einhorn) is one sick child that is obsessed with BASEKETBALL and Coop. Coop and Jenna bond over Joey causing an even bigger issue between the two best friends.
That’s the basic plot of the film, but the heart of the production is obviously in the humor; and everyone brings some great comedic moments to screen.
Dian Bachar portrays Squeak Scolari and does a fabulous job playing the always bullied, over-dramatic, nice guy. He always finishes last, but he always gets back up and tries. At times, Squeak could be the voice of reason, but his desperation to fit in with Coop and Doug silence his concerns and make him jump in headfirst.
Yasmine Bleeth has great timing and delivers her gags in a great way. Her parody of all female romance tropes works marvelously. She’s the nice, near-missionary, damsel-in-distress who is sexual enough to be a provocative turn-on, but innocent enough to be embarrassed about it.
Ernest Borgnine is hilarious in this. Borgnine could do it all! Whether standing strong in THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972), hamming it up in THE DEVIL’S RAIN (1975), dancing in a bubble in SUPER FUZZ (1980) or singing I’M TOO SEXY in this, he rocked it out. Borgnine was the man!
Robert Vaughn as the straight-laced and confused antagonist also hits it out of the park. The face features he makes and the mannerisms of “What the fuck?” that he uses makes for some of the greatest moments in the movie.
There are quite a few amazing cameos in this, most notably is Robert Stack in full UNSOLVED MYSTERIES gear and style trying to locate Coop.
It goes without saying that Matt Stone and Trey Parker are fabulous in this. They are two of the only comedians left that are unbridled, in-your-face and raw. They’re fearless. They took no prisoners in 1998 and they take no prisoners now. They are one of the only things left that are truly punk rock.
This is an underrated flick that showcases a somewhat different side to the talented duo than we’ve seen before or since. It’s currently streaming on NETFLIX or available for rent on purchase at other streaming channels.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10
