'Benchwarmers' should've never left the bench

"Three grown men form a baseball team to play against little league bullies."\nWith a tagline like this, the only way "Benchwarmers" was able to see the light of day was likely because Adam Sandler was attached to produce. Because Sandler has apparently moved on to more ambitious roles (see: "Punch Drunk Love" or "Spanglish"), he sat this film out and recruited his old pals Rob "Deuce Bigalo" Schneider and David "Joe Dirt" Spade to star. Also along for the ride is Jon Heder, who in this film takes his "Napoleon Dynamite" character and plays it to unending stupidity. \nIt could go without saying that this film has little in the way of a coherent, plausible plot, but how else could one explain grown men seeking revenge on their childhood bullies by attempting to whip on little league ball players? \nThe story begins when Gus (Schneider), a landscaper, summons his buddies Ritchie (Spade), a video clerk and Clark (Heder), a helmet wearing paperboy, to play baseball at the local field. It is there they witness a young nerd getting beat up and farted on by little league bullies. Gus decides to have his three man crew challenge the kids to a game for control of the field, and he ends up single-handedly beating the youngsters while Ritchie and Clark nearly knock themselves out repeatedly. \nThe young nerd's billionaire father (Jon Lovitz) gets wind of the victory, feels some nostalgic nerd empathy and uses his money to set up a tournament where team "Benchwarmers" will play all the little league teams in the state for a chance to win a brand new ballpark. Sound far-fetched? Wait until you see Heder's impersonation of the world's stupidest man. \nThere are several notable cameos in the film, however, none are quite top notch actors, and it shows. There's Craig Kilborn, who plays a little league coach and the Benchwarmers' greatest nemesis. Also making appearances are ESPN football analyst Shawn Salisbury, "Saturday Night Live's" Tim Meadows and hall of fame ball player Reggie Jackson. \nThe film's humor seems to be directed more towards the junior high crowd. There is a surplus of poop and fart gags, people getting hit by baseball bats and Heder doing and saying the most ridiculous things imaginable. Not to say that the humor is dull because it is certainly worth a few laughs. But if any are expecting the perfect mix of comedic acting and baseball, they are in for a sore disappointed.