Balls Up
The brief
Peter Farrelly tries to recapture his Dumb and Dumber magic by throwing Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser into a surprisingly violent chase comedy that feels more mean-spirited than funny. Wahlberg leans hard into his confused Boston guy persona while Hauser does his best with material that never quite decides if it wants to be a buddy comedy or an actual thriller. The soccer setting provides some decent physical gags, but the film gets bogged down in repetitive chase sequences that wear thin by the halfway mark. If you miss the chaotic energy of early 2000s R-rated comedies and don't mind when the laughs come with a body count, this might scratch that itch.
The verdict
If you're craving the chaotic energy of early 2000s R-rated comedies and don't mind when your laughs come with a surprisingly high body count, this violent chase romp will scratch that specific itch. If you prefer your comedies more good-natured or expect Peter Farrelly's trademark heart beneath the hijinks, the mean-spirited tone and repetitive action will likely leave you cold.
Watch with
- 👥 Best with friends who love crude R-rated comedies
- ⚠️ Skip if you prefer clever over chaotic humor
Heads up
- Frequent graphic violence mixed with comedy (frequent)
- Heavy drinking and drug use throughout (frequent)
- Strong language and crude sexual humor (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Peter Farrelly
- Cast
- Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser, Molly Shannon, Eva De Dominici, Benjamin Bratt, Daniela Melchior, Eric André
Official synopsis
Two American marketing executives are fired for blowing a client sponsorship opportunity and decide to use
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Influenced (2026)
Both feature Americans making terrible decisions that spiral into chaos.
Total runtime: 1h 44m + 1h 28m = 3h 12m
