Educational Media Reviews Online

Can a seemingly simple game played with a red rubber ball be responsible for creating a restless and directionless generation? The creator of this award winning film, (Lumiere Award, New Orleans Film Festival; Official Selection, Slamdance Film Festival) Art Jones, believes it is. Dodge Ball, a simulated documentary, integrates present-day interviews with flashbacks to expose the game of dodge ball as one that traumatized millions of American children.

Affected by dodge ball in various ways, seven men and women, along with their elementary school physical education teacher, tell their stories through over-dramatized dialogue and the re-creation of a fourth grade physical education class. Five of the players describe their experiences as degrading, sadistic, violent, and chaotic. Two others reveled in the game - the speed, discipline, and teamwork, as well as the lack of rules that characterized the game, made them feel on top of the world. When the course their lives have taken is revealed we are given a glimpse into the effects the game of dodge ball has had on their lives; those hating the game are working as an over zealous attorney, a counselor helping young people cope with societal pressures, an award winning physicist, a psychologist in training, and an aimless writer drifting along in a world that doesn't add up. Those who loved the game as children are stereotypically depicted as a prison inmate and the seedy owner of a salvage business, both of whom lack many of the social graces. The physical education teacher, Mr. Butz, vacillates between being a proponent of the game and blaming others for not informing him of the game's harmful qualities.

Cleverly created, the technical qualities of this film are excellent, with the contrast between the flashback scenes and present day interviews highlighted with interesting color changes. Slow motion is used to portray the children running and dodging the ball, and the use of the song "Red Rubber Ball" written by Paul Simon, is aptly played during the credits.

Although this reviewer doesn't feel that a hurtful child's game can be blamed for derailing a whole generation of America's youth, this video has its very valid concept artfully portrayed. At times rather humorous in its exaggeration, this "docu-remedy" as it is referred to, is quite thought provoking and is recommended for academic courses highlighting psychology or popular culture.