The Underdoggs is an R-rated sports comedy that rides high on Snoop Dogg’s magnetic presence yet stumbles trying to merge edgy humor with earnest underdog sentiment. In this Prime Video exclusive, Snoop portrays Jaycen “Two Js” Jennings, a washed-up NFL star sent back to his Long Beach roots for community service. Assigned to coach a foul-mouthed pee-wee football team, he pretends at first—but gradually reconnects with his past, the team, and a former flame.
From its opening moments, the film makes clear it’s not a family-friendly underdog tale. The cursing flows freely—even among the kids—and includes risque drug and drinking references that feel more shock device than clever twist. The direction embraces this rawness with gusto, as if jabbing the viewer: this is not Mighty Ducks, this is the unrated, unfiltered flip side.
Still, there’s a pulse beneath the profanity. The kids—led by an especially charismatic young female player—exude real charm. Their chemistry supplies some of the film’s brightest moments, a tether to empathy amid the crassness. Tika Sumpter matches Snoop’s charisma as Cherise, his old flame and the mother of the standout kid. Their interactions provide a rare glimpse into genuine emotional stakes, even when the script threatens to flatten it.
Snoop as Jaycen is both the film’s anchor and its contradiction. He oozes charisma—walking scenes, dripping in swagger, his laid-back delivery never forced. He rarely transcends his persona, but perhaps that’s also the joke: we’re watching Snoop act as himself in every sense, and the film leans into that. If the script falters, his presence still entertains.
Yet the story around him often feels undercooked. Jaycen’s transformation from aloof star to reluctant coach happens too quickly, and sometimes unconvincingly. His redemptive arc—finding purpose in the kids and community—plays like a threadbare version of countless sports films before it. There’s an attempt to root the film in Snoop’s real-life football league for youth, which adds sincerity, but it’s not enough to rescue the narrative’s predictability.
The humor is a mixed bag. Some jokes hit hard, fueled by the absurdity of potty-mouthed children and Snoop’s deadpan reactions. Others misfire, leaning too heavily on gonzo antics like beer-drinking kids or tasteless locker-room talk. One scene with a drunken stumble clearly provokes a laugh—but also raises the question: who really is this movie for?
Directorially, Charles Stone III injects the film with visual flair—bright suburban fields, sloppy pratfalls, camera pans that flaunt Snoop’s cool. The energy is high, even when the tone wavers. And yes, scenes where Jaycen must choose between his own comeback and coaching the team do engage emotionally, offering glimpses of heart before the credits roll.
Ultimately, The Underdoggs is not a classic underdog story. It’s campy, loud, and often tone-deaf. But it’s also unapologetically itself: messy, a little vulgar, and impossible to ignore when Snoop’s in the scene. If you’re looking for a refined sports tale, this isn’t it. But if you come in chasing charisma and chaos, you might just find a ridiculous, occasionally funny ride.
The Underdoggs is now streaming on Prime Video.
