News > Sensei sure sounds like Dodgeball

Written by John Lichman

It's not unusual for films to "pay homage" to those that have come before it, from shot-for-shot recreations to dialogue and even character puns. But the plot of a recently sold spec-script suspiciously sounds like Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Aside from wondering why, of all films, you'd steal from Dodgeball, read Variety's plot summary for Sensei:

Story centers on a drunk, washed-up sensei at a rundown dojo being challenged to a rematch of a famed 1984 fight by his opponent – an informercial star who's franchised "Karate Pilates" and opened one of his workout franchises across the street.

Huh. A "rundown dojo being challeneged" with "an infomercial star who's franchised… and opened…across the street."

As it is a spec script recently sold, no other roles have been filled yet. But man, of all the Vince Vaughn films to rip off, why this one?