The Underdoggs (2024)

The film opens with Jaycen "Two-J's" Jennings speaking directly into the microphone of his podcast as he recounts the arc of his life in football. He narrates how scouts plucked him straight out of high school, how he rose quickly to superstardom, and how his on-field brilliance is matched by a reputation for poor behavior off the turf. He describes the slow erosion of his abilities and the way crowds turn away, and he punctuates this account with frustration at being labeled washed up.

That frustration erupts physically when Jaycen storms into the office of his agent, Ryan Kauffman. Jaycen barges through the door, loud and volatile, confronting Ryan about the way people now talk about him. Ryan, played by Kal Penn, attempts to distance himself and explains that Jaycen's persona is hurting his marketability--especially against a relentless critic, commentator Chip Collins, who has spent years disparaging Jaycen on TV. Ryan urges a rebrand to rebuild ratings; Jaycen answers with profanity, accuses Ryan of abandoning him, and slams the door on his agent's calm insistence. Jaycen's anger carries over into a brief, heated in-person exchange with former teammate Tony Gonzalez; he shouts about being self-made and storms out. He starts the car in a rage and drives recklessly down the street. A bus collides with Jaycen's vehicle; the crash totals his car and leaves him injured.

After the collision, the legal consequences descend quickly. A judge who recognizes Jaycen from his hometown sentences him to 300 hours of community service. In court the judge announces the sentence to a packed room and, aware of Jaycen's celebrity, tells the public that his service will include picking up dog waste, making his return to the neighborhood a humiliation. Jaycen accepts the sentence and begins the slow process of returning to Long Beach.

Five weeks later, Jaycen arrives back in Long Beach to begin his community service. On the sidewalk he nearly becomes the target of an armed robbery; his childhood friend Kareem levels a gun at him in a tense standoff. Kareem lowers the weapon and breaks into a grin when he recognizes Jaycen. The two exchange warmth and old jokes; Kareem's recognition defuses the threat and reintroduces Jaycen to the neighborhood rhythms he left behind.

Jaycen reports to a local middle school to fulfill his court-ordered hours. He watches a practice session of the school's struggling football squad, the Green Team. The boys mock his flashy--but now unfashionable--outfit and deride his duty of scooping dog feces. Jaycen lashes back verbally, swearing at the kids and raising his voice. Among the players he notices Trey, a bright and audacious kid whose mother Cherise works at the school. Cherise, who once dated Jaycen back when he was rising through the ranks, registers shock and anger at seeing him talk down to children--especially her son.

Kareem tells Jaycen that the Green Team no longer has a coach. Jaycen immediately identifies an opportunity: he can use coaching to rebuild his image and also to get closer to Cherise. He volunteers to take charge of the squad and begins organizing practices. The team's first matchup under Jaycen's supervision is against the Colonels, a dominant older squad coached by Chip Collins, the same commentator who has tormented Jaycen publicly. At the game Chip taunts Jaycen from the sidelines; the Colonels overwhelm the Green Team with size and experience. Jaycen responds to the humiliation by berating his players in the locker room and on the field. Cherise confronts him afterward, scolding him for tearing down boys who already feel defeated, and she accuses Jaycen of repeating the destructive patterns that cost him his career.

Jaycen seeks counsel from his former mentor, Coach Feis. Feis, a gruff but wise presence, tells Jaycen to try what he calls a "Jedi mind trick" on the kids: connect with them, speak their language, and find ways to inspire rather than intimidate. Jaycen takes that advice and changes his approach. He begins to learn each player's personal interests and ties drills to those obsessions. He speaks to Gary, a bespectacled boy who loves Game of Thrones, and encourages him to imagine himself as a dragon--channeling that fantasy into physical intensity on the field. Jaycen corridors through the team's personalities, nicknames and all. He presents the Green Team with new jerseys, each emblazoned with a custom nickname: Trey becomes "Superstar," Gary is dubbed "Drogon," and another player, Tony, receives an irreverent moniker, "Titties." Jaycen uses this personalization to build rapport and pride.

As practices continue, Jaycen learns more about his players' lives. He discovers Tony hides the fact that he plays football from his parents, who think he is committed to Mathletes; Jaycen counsels Tony to tell them the truth and to be honest about his passions. He talks to Dwayne about the stigma he feels living in a trailer park and urges him to carry his past with dignity rather than shame. During one practice session a revelation ripples through the team: one of their most enigmatic players, called Ghost, is a girl. Cherise beams at the disclosure and encourages the team to accept Ghost as a teammate.

To reward the boys and to further tie himself to the squad, Jaycen throws a pool party at his sprawling mansion. The kids are thrilled at the luxury and at being included in Jaycen's world. Cherise and Jaycen talk poolside, tentatively reconnecting; Jaycen's old charisma and their shared history create small sparks. Kareem hangs back to supervise the festivities but dozes off in a chair while keeping watch over the pool. The unsupervised boys find Kareem's hidden stash of beer. They begin drinking, get rowdy, and eventually urinate in the pool. Jaycen and Cherise return mid-chaos, aghast at the scene of drunken teenagers fouling the water. They shout, break up the party, and scold the players for irresponsible behavior.

The next week practice rings with an unexpected phone call. Ryan Kauffman puts Jaycen on speaker in front of the team and shares that Jaycen's presence with the Green Team has spiked his public interest and TV ratings. Ryan has secured Jaycen the chance to host his own sports television show, a major professional opportunity. The problem: the pilot taping is scheduled for the same day as the Green Team's championship rematch against the Colonels. The kids immediately fear Jaycen will abandon them, just as past coaches left, and they accuse him of using them for publicity. Cherise echoes their disappointment and pleads for Jaycen to honor his commitment to the boys. Jaycen defends his choice by arguing his career must be salvaged and insists this show could change everything. He agrees to the taping despite the squad's hurt.

On game day Jaycen sits under bright studio lights between sports media figures including Terry Bradshaw and Michael Strahan. Cameras roll; Jaycen finds himself responding to prompts about his career and his time coaching. Mid-interview a sudden wave of remorse hits him. He feels the pull of the Green Team and realizes he cannot fully stand by while they play without him. He excuses himself from the live set and rushes back across town.

Jaycen arrives back at the field breathless and gathers the Green Team for a quick, fierce pep talk. He tells them not to measure themselves by the scoreboard but by the effort they bring. The opening quarter is a rout: the Colonels crush Jaycen's team, piling on points while the Green Team remains scoreless. The crowd grows despondent. During halftime Trey seizes the moment and delivers a passionate speech to his teammates. He refuses to be cowed by labels and urges everyone to play like they belong. The players return to the field fired up, and the crowd begins to chant along.

The Colonels' lead narrows as the Green Team executes a series of plays crafted by Jaycen's recent training. In the fourth quarter Jaycen notices the referee making suspicious calls that favor the Colonels. Kareem, watching from the sideline with his pack of dogs, releases the animals near the field. The dogs cause a commotion that forces the referee to step away to regain control, neutralizing the biased officiating and creating breathing room for the Green Team. The students and parents in the stands rally, and the momentum shifts decisively.

With seconds left on the clock the Green Team mounts a final drive. They engineer a pass play that finds Tony at the goal line. Tony curls forward and reaches desperately for the end zone. The ball lands near the plane of the goal but slips from his grasp as his body collides with defenders. The whistle blows; the officials rule Tony short of the touchdown. The Colonels secure the victory. Tony collapses to the turf, sobbing from the sting of falling so close. His teammates rush to him, lift him up, and surround him with arms and words. The onlookers' applause swells as gratitude for the boys' heart and tenacity overrides the sting of defeat.

After the field sags with spent players, Jaycen kneels among them and tells the Green Team to walk over to the Colonels and offer their respects. The boys approach the opposing team and shake hands. They tell the Colonels that they will come back next year to "fuck them up," a promise that mixes humility and defiance. Cherise and Jaycen share a quiet moment afterward; their earlier friction softens into mutual respect and then into renewed affection. They exchange a tentative kiss and talk about staying in each other's lives.

The film closes with interstitial text explaining Jaycen's next actions beyond the field. He launches the Snoop Youth Football League, an organization that teaches teamwork and discipline through sport. The on-screen details list that over 85,000 children join the program, 20,000 of those children go on to attend college, and 25 players eventually enter the NFL. No characters die during the events depicted in the film; there are injuries from the car crash and physical strains from the games, but there are no fatalities or on-screen killings. The final frame lingers on Jaycen coaching young players at a league practice, the camera pulling back as he instructs them in drills, and the credits roll over images of smiling kids running onto a sunlit field.

At the end of The Underdoggs (2024), Jaycen "Two J's" Jennings chooses to prioritize coaching his peewee football team over reviving his own career. The team plays a big game and nearly wins, but a missed play causes them to lose. Despite the loss, the team and Jaycen are inspired, and Jaycen appears to reconcile with his former flame, Cherise.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The climax unfolds on the day of the team's big football game. Jaycen, the washed-up former NFL star, has been offered a chance to revive his career with his own sports show. However, the taping of this show coincides with the game. Jaycen faces a choice between his personal comeback and his commitment to the team he has been coaching as part of his community service.

Jaycen decides to stay with the team, showing his growth from selfishness to genuine care. The game is intense and competitive, with the underdog team--branded as the "Underdoggs"--playing with heart and determination. The players, who had been portrayed with distinct traits such as being mouthy or butterfingers, come together under Jaycen's guidance.

As the game nears its conclusion, the Underdoggs are close to scoring a winning touchdown. However, one of the players misses the line to make the touchdown, which results in the opposing team winning the game. Despite this loss, the spirit of the team remains high, and the experience has clearly inspired the kids.

Following the game, Jaycen's relationship with Cherise, the mother of one of the players and his former high school girlfriend, is rekindled. This suggests a hopeful future for both Jaycen and the team, emphasizing themes of redemption and second chances.

The film closes by highlighting Jaycen's transformation from a self-centered former star to a mentor who genuinely cares about the kids and his community. The fate of the main characters at the end is:

• Jaycen Jennings: Chooses the team over personal fame, showing personal growth and reconnecting with Cherise.
• Cherise: Reunited with Jaycen, symbolizing a restored relationship.
• The Peewee Football Team: Though they lose the big game, they are inspired and united, having gained confidence and mentorship.

This ending underscores the film's message about humility, redemption, and the importance of community and mentorship in overcoming personal and collective challenges.

The movie The Underdoggs (2024) does have an end credits sequence, but it is not a traditional post-credit scene with additional plot content or a teaser for a sequel. Instead, during the end credits, it is revealed that Snoop Dogg, who stars in the film, created a real-life football program for kids, connecting the film's story to a real-world initiative.

There is no indication from the available sources of a separate post-credit scene with new narrative material or a comedic gag. The film's ending focuses on the team's emotional growth and close loss in the championship game, with no extra scene after the credits that advances the story or adds new information.

Jaycen Jennings initially takes on coaching the youth football team as part of his court-mandated community service after a car accident and legal trouble. At first, he is selfishly motivated by the idea that coaching the team will help him rebuild his public image and possibly rekindle a relationship with his ex-girlfriend Cherise, who is the mother of one of the players. Over time, he genuinely begins to care about the kids and their growth, leading to his personal transformation.

Jaycen and Cherise, his high school girlfriend and mother of one of the players, start off estranged. Jaycen's initial interest in coaching partly stems from wanting to reconnect with her. Throughout the film, as Jaycen grows and becomes more selfless, they begin to rebuild their relationship, though the movie emphasizes that the focus remains on teamwork and resilience rather than romance.

Kareem, played by Mike Epps, is Jaycen's reckless and hustler friend who moves in with him and talks his way into becoming the assistant coach of the youth football team. Kareem provides comic relief and supports Jaycen's efforts, including a memorable scene where he humorously misquotes scripture to motivate the team.

The rival coach, played by comedian Andrew Schulz, is a harsh critic and trash-talking sports podcaster who coaches the opposing youth football team. His presence forces Jaycen to take his coaching role more seriously and raises the stakes for the Underdoggs, pushing them to improve and compete harder.

The Underdoggs do not win the championship; they lose due to a missed touchdown line by one of the players. However, the near-win is significant as it symbolizes the team's growth, camaraderie, and resilience. The emotional support and unity among the team members and Jaycen's personal growth are highlighted as the true victories, rather than the final score.

The 2024 movie The Underdoggs is not family-friendly and is rated R due to pervasive strong language, sexual references, drug use, and some underage drinking.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting content includes:

• Severe profanity: The film contains about 200 uses of the word "fuck" and other strong vulgarities.
• Sexual references: Mild sexual content is present, including mentions of porn stars and sex tapes early in the film.
• Drug use and smoking: Moderate depiction of marijuana use and drug references, consistent with the main character's lifestyle.
• Alcohol and underage drinking: Some scenes involve underage drinking.
• Mild violence: There is mild violence but no intense or frightening scenes.
• Themes: The film features a flawed, selfish protagonist who undergoes personal growth, but the tone includes adult humor and edgy language.

Overall, The Underdoggs is a sports comedy with a positive message but contains mature content and language that make it unsuitable for children or sensitive viewers.