Beer League (2006)

One of the terrible because it's true facts about show business over the last few years was that many people expected Artie to die! His brutally frank tales often revolve around his gluttonous eating habits, severe depression and drug abuse. The man who could have easily become another entertainment fatality too soon has apparently cleaned up his act and finally gotten on the healthier track. Of course, his sense of what's funny will stay in the gutter where his quick with a witty and/or vile joke mind is destined to remain. (Please note the above comments were written before Artie's recent situation developed into public knowledge. I don't consider whatever actually happened to be my or anyone else's business unless Artie himself goes on the record about the truth. Art, we love you and want you to get better! You're a talented man and millions of us are thinking of the Lange family in these times. From a sincere fan.)"Beer League" is a kick in the pants comedy that lets Art shine, with food stains on his shirt, in his Jersey stomping grounds. These drink a little, swear a lot leagues do exist and his natural talent for baseball was something he had going for himself before tragedy and chemical dependency took hold during the midpoint of his life. The no longer teenage looking Ralph Macchio and Seymour Cassel help Art along in this both sensitive and totally insensitive story as he finds love and the hate inside both rising to the surface.Full of great tunes and guy humour, this star vehicle isn't for all tastes. It's primarily geared towards the audience he's won over on the radio and his stand up career. Great roles for Cara Buono as his lady and Laurie Metcalf as his saint of a mother might help keep the women who don't care for the overall raunchy tone watching.A little poem I wrote a while back in 2007:" Artie Lange's 40th Birthday "You've come a long way from hopes dockedFrom Jersey to Holeywood, ya rocked!Show business wasn't always your cup of teaGive a big middle finger to all things phony!Mad TV, we laughed deliriouslyNow satellite is taking you Siriusly!Into a wild and crazy new frontierLet your next forty years keep the roasts near!

This movie made absolutely no sense whatsoever. OK they went over the line with going against political correctness. I guess that was the reason for this film. Word of mouth brings in people that are against political correctness or something like that.Thus,they fill a niche and make guaranteed money. Capitalism, the Howard Stern way. Thats fine,but it was a lousy product. The film dared to be different. By being overly anti political correct, that is ultimately what killed this film. The politically incorrect humor was diluted after 10 minutes of this film. It was just forced. Thus the shock was not only not funny, but not shocking anymore. Artie Lang was atrocious and so was Ralph Macchio. I can understand why Mr. Macchio is not getting parts. This was a film that did not need to be made. Yes usual fare of heavyset,middle age loser , living with his mom somehow an item with a beautiful woman. Predictable movie, taking place in working class town in NJ. Caricatures, stereotypes,lame humor,hard liquor but no beer. This movie had it all and managed to make it NOT work. The plot , party animal, fraternity type of misfits trying to win a softball championship against an elite snobs team. They even managed a stereotype here, making this obnoxious mayoral candidate a cousin of one of our protagonists. There you have the plot. See this at your own peril.

I watched this movie and I have to say it was exactly what you expect. It doesn't try and make you think you are going to watch an academy award winning film, it makes you think that I'm bored i feel like laughing a lot so I'll check it out. Although the comedy in it is a bit raunchy it is hilarious. I don't kow how anyone dislikes this comedy it's not like you walked into this movie anticipating an American film institute classic. Great movie the story line leaves a bit to be expected but still a very funny movie.It's exactly what your expecting if you like movies that you can relate to you have to check it out. If you get the chance to rent do it and if you can pick it up for five dollars or so it's a great buy.

Artie Lange has talent. If it's one thing someone can walk away from this film with, it's that Lange is a funny man and has a real ability to portray a realistic human being and a damn funny one. The movie is pretty solid from a creative viewpoint and Artie himself is classic. He's truly in comedic form and simply outpaces everybody else in this movie. The supporting cast is sweet--through I didn't recognize Ralph Macchio until the credits--and there's nothing wrong there. I'm not damning with false praise when I think that Lange's performance in 'Dirty Work' is surpassed here with this film. It's raunchy without apology, and it works very well.The only problem is the film seems to be made on the cheap and the plot development was a bit rough. Not bad like they hired a pizza boy to do the editing, but it was noticeable enough to distract. The film quality itself is perfect and it's a damn shame this film didn't get a better word of mouth. While this is a gem, it shouldn't be found in a Wal-Mart bargain bin for $5.All and all, if you are a big Artie Lange fan, this is the movie where he returns to the brilliant guy we know from MadTV when he was propping that show up and Dirty Work. Now if he would only do a few more and get his life back into order, the world would be a better place.