Ladybugs (film)
Ladybugs | |
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![]() Theatrical Release Poster
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Directed by | Sidney J. Furie |
Produced by | Andre Morgan Albert S. Ruddy |
Written by | Curtis Burch |
Starring | Rodney Dangerfield Jackée Harry Jonathan Brandis Vinessa Shaw Ilene Graff |
Music by | Richard Gibbs |
Cinematography | Dan Burstall |
Edited by | Timothy Board John W. Wheeler |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates
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March 27, 1992 |
Running time
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90 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $14,796,494 |
Ladybugs is a sports-comedy family film released in 1992 starring Rodney Dangerfield and directed by Sidney J. Furie.
Dangerfield plays a businessman who takes over a girls soccer team which the company he works for sponsors. The film also stars Jackée Harry as his assistant coach, Ilene Graff as his girlfriend, Jonathan Brandis as his girlfriend's son (and soon to be star of the team) and Vinessa Shaw as the boss's daughter and Matthew's love interest.
Then Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda has a cameo, as do Blake Clark and longtime Dangerfield friend Chuck McCann.
Plot
Chester Lee (Rodney Dangerfield) is desperate for a promotion at work. To impress his boss, he claims to have been a good soccer player in his youth and is badgered into coaching a girls' team called the Ladybugs. Dragging his assistant Julie (Jackée Harry) along as assistant coach, Chester figures the gig easy as the Ladybugs, sponsored by his company, are a dynasty. Unfortunately, only one player has returned. The team, which includes the boss's daughter, Kimberly (Vinessa Shaw), are clueless, make a dreadful start to the season and the boss is less than impressed.
In his personal life, Chester is engaged to Bess (Ilene Graff), who has a son, Matthew (Jonathan Brandis), from a previous marriage. Matthew just happens to be a great athlete, but poor grades get him kicked off the soccer team. Chester invites Matthew to watch the Ladybugs practice and to get some tips. Matthew has a crush on Kimberly from school and it is partly due to this that Chester persuades him to dress like a girl and play for the team under the name Martha.
With only Chester, Matthew and Julie knowing the secret of Martha's identity, the team wins the rest of its games to get to the championship game. Kimberly makes friends with Martha, not knowing "she" is in fact Matthew.
Just before the championship game, Bess finds out that Matthew has been dressing as a girl to play. She becomes angry with Chester, making him drop Matthew from the team. Kimberly, who has not been playing well, is also dropped on the request of Chester's boss.
The Ladybugs go down 3-0 in the first half. At halftime, Matthew reveals to Kimberly and the rest of the team that he is Martha. His honesty fires the team up and with Chester's encouragement, Kimberly scores the winning goal on a penalty kick. As the Ladybugs win the championship, Chester gets his promotion. Bess and Chester get married while Matthew and Kimberly begin dating.
Cast
- Rodney Dangerfield as Chester Lee
- Jackée Harry as Julie Benson (as Jackée)
- Jonathan Brandis as Matthew / Martha
- Ilene Graff as Bess
- Vinessa Shaw as Kimberly Mullen
- Tom Parks as Dave Mullen
- Randall May as Championship Soccer trainer
- Jeanetta Arnette as Glynnis Mullen
- Crystal Cooke as Nancy Larimer (as LaCrystal Cooke)
- Jennifer Frances Lee as Carmelita Chu
- Vanessa Monique Rossel as Tina Velez
- Johna Stewart-Bowden as Sally Anne Welfelt (as Johna Stewart)
- Jandi Swanson as Penny Pester
- Nancy Parsons as Coach Annie
- Blake Clark as Coach Bull
- Tommy Lasorda as Coach Cannoli
Reception
Ladybugs was panned by critics and has a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[1][2]
Box office
The movie was a box office disappointment, taking in almost $15 million in the US and Canada.[3]
Film dates
July–September 1991 in Colorado.[4]
References
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