This dreary comedy is just not funny. Think about it--you know you are in trouble when the plot involves having a boy dress like a girl to play soccer AND the supporting actress is Jackée Harry. Plus, the movie is just very poorly written with most of its jokes being crude and stupid. You also know you are in trouble when one of these painfully unfunny moments is when Rodney is in the dressing room with this young boy and is helping him dress up like a girl--and the dialog is written as if he's having sex with this child. Wow--child molester humor--now that's sure to create a lot of laughs,...if you're an idiot or a child molester.

It's really a shame, as Dangerfield did some cute movies that were FUN. While EASY MONEY and BACK TO SCHOOL weren't terribly deep, they were good for a few laughs. This film didn't even provide one.

I assumed this was a safe movie for kids, one about a young girls soccer team. Well, it WAS about the soccer team but it also had numerous sex jokes and innuendos, along with a lot of profanity and just plain sleazy remarks.

Whoever wrote this script must be a real sleazebag. I should have noticed the PG-13 label, but somehow missed it. That would have tipped me off. For those who disagree with my remarks, tell me why they had to rate it PG-13 if it is such a sweet and innocent film??? .

The main kid in here is a foul-mouthed brat, too. Rodney Dangerfield, the adult star of this prize-winner, has some funny lines but the general tone of this "kids" movie turned me off, big-time.

Do not show this to your little girls.

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 (3/27/92) Sidney J. Furie ~ Rodney Dangerfield, Jonathan Brandis, Jackée Harry