Ladybugs (1992)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Sidney J. Furie

Writer (WGA):

Curtis Burch (written by)

Release Date:

27 March 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Getting respect is one big goal!

Plot:

To climb the corporate ladder to success, a guy agrees to coach the company's all girl soccer team with the help of his secret weapon: his fiancee's son.

Plot Keywords:

Soccer | Girls' Soccer | Sports Team | Stepfather Stepson Relationship | Forbidden Love

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Rodney Dangerfield	...	Chester Lee
Jackée Harry	...	Julie Benson - Assistant Coach (as Jackée)
Jonathan Brandis	...	Matthew / Martha
Ilene Graff	...	Bess
Vinessa Shaw	...	Kimberly Mullen
Tom Parks	...	Dave Mullen
Jeannetta Arnette	...	Glynnis Mullen
Crystal Cooke	...	Nancy Larimer (as LaCrystal Cooke)
Jennifer Frances Lee	...	Carmelita Chu
Vanessa Monique Rossel	...	Tina Velez
Johna Stewart-Bowden	...	Sally Anne Welfelt (as Johna Stewart)
Jandi Swanson	...	Penny Pester
Nancy Parsons	...	Coach Annie
Blake Clark	...	Coach Bull
Tommy Lasorda	...	Coach Cannoli

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Spain:T | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Company:

Ladybugs

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Chester and Matthew argue about the team, a boom operator is reflected in thecar door as Matthew closes it.

Quotes:

Chester: I've never saw such beautiful landscaping. Looks like all the trees threw up.

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Soundtrack:

A Groove Relation

A Comedy without Respect

Bucking for a promotion at work, Rodney Dangerfield (as Chester Lee) brags about his soccer prowess; so, his boss assigns him coach for "The Ladybugs", an inept girls soccer team. Mr. Dangerfield knows little about soccer, and less about coaching the team; so, he persuades girlfriend's sporting son Jonathan Brandis (as Matthew) to join the team, in drag. Donning a wig to become "Martha", Mr. Brandis becomes the team's star "girl" player. How long can this deception last?

Promotion as "A Comedy with Balls" gives away the film's big wit; of course, there are several jokes about testicles. Dangerfield and assistant Jackée Harry (as Julie Benson) can be much funnier than they are in this movie. The problem, perhaps, is that Dangerfield is "toned down" to appeal to a younger audience. Otherwise, it's difficult to believe the situation herein. Brandis has a non-gender specific appeal; he is best in a scene entertaining a "fellow" pretty soccer player, Vinessa Shaw (as Kimberly). Watch Brandis change between "Matthew" and "Martha" very quickly, with a cool stairway trick.

There are some (admittedly straw-grasping, here) admirable messages for younger girls: for example, self-conscious "Penny Pester" is made to feel pretty; and, the team is given some "you can do it" (despite being girls) confidence. However, it's difficult to believe a high school teenager would join a girls soccer team to either get close to a girl, or please a prospective step-father. And, a character's reaction to the farce is incomprehensible ("…corrupt my son!", "Go to your room!"). Worse yet is a "changing room" scene with commits a comedy sin; it's offensive without being funny.

*** Ladybugs (1992) Sidney J. Furie ~ Rodney Dangerfield, Jonathan Brandis, Jackée Harry