‘The UnderDoggs’ Review – A Foul-Mouthed Fun Time

While The UnderDoggs is a sports film, this ain’t exactly Remember the Titans. It’s not for the people who have an aversion to cuss words because there’s not a single scene that doesn’t include at least one. However, for those of you who are fluent in muthaf***kas, you’ll enjoy this immensely. Heavy with hilarity from the very first second (literally, the disclaimer at the beginning will have you about to fall off the couch), The UnderDoggs is a foul-mouthed masterpiece that teaches you a thing or two about life from the side of the little guys.

This story starts with Jaycen Jennings, played by Snoop Dogg. Once upon a time, Jaycen was a highly talented – and selfish – football player who started on top, but like the mighty who came before him, he eventually fell. Now, he’s a washed-up ex-player with a chip on his shoulder and a podcast to vent his frustrations. That is until he gets into a car accident that lands him with 300 hours of community service in the place he was bred from – Long Beach.

While shoveling dog poop to fulfill his community service, Jaycen meets the rambunctious ‘round the way’ group of kids who have just lost their football coach. One of the kids is the son of his high school sweetheart Cherise (Tika Sumpter), and after their run-in, Jaycen decides that he will be the coach for the team – if only to get close to Cherise again and to take down his nemesis Chip Collins (Andrew Schulz). Of course, along the way, it becomes more as he must take this ragtag team of wannabe ruffians and turn them into good players.

Joined alongside his assistant coach Kareem (Mike Epps) and with the occasional mind tricks from his former Coach (George Lopez), Jaycen is starting to find value within the team he’s building and within himself. The UnderDoggs can be likened to The Mighty Ducks, Rebound, and Kicking and Screaming – but its best comparison comes in the form of Coach Carter. Like its predecessor, The UnderDoggs is drippin’ with culture, namely, the parts that often get overlooked in media – at least in a positive light. There’s a team of amazing players who are underestimated on and off the field because of where they’re from, how they speak, and who they are. Something Jaycen can relate to, but also so can the audience.

Director Charles Stone III and producer Kenya Barris do a great job weaving surprisingly real and down-to-earth moments between scenes that make you laugh out loud. You realize that not only is Jaycen healing old wounds, but he’s also helping the team to create great memories and find themselves in the process. Stacked with the best tropes that make any sports film a must-watch, The UnderDoggs is uplifting, inspiring, and filled with hilarious moments. Snoop Dogg does a delightful job of being a leader on the field, which could be why this film found inspiration from The Snoop Youth Football League, Snoop’s successful non-profit that allows inner-city children the chance to participate in youth football and cheer. Audiences of The UnderDoggs will take home messages about the power of being an underdog and bring with it the realization that the only person that can keep you down is yourself.

The UnderDoggs will debut exclusively on Prime Video on January 26, 2024. 

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