Watch National Lampoons Blackball

National Lampoon's Blackball is a 2003 British comedy-drama sports movie directed by Mel Smith. The movie is set around the game of lawn bowling and the story follows the life of Cliff Starkey (Paul Kaye), a young, rebellious player who is determined to win the British Lawn Bowls Championship, known as the Golden Bowl, against all the odds. The movie is set in the fictional town of Torquay, where the local economy revolves around the game of lawn bowls. Cliff is considered to be one of the best players in town but is not taken seriously by the established lawn bowls community due to his unconventional attitude and style of playing. He is seen as a black sheep in the world of lawn bowls, where tradition and decorum are highly valued. However, Cliff's life changes when he gets banned from the local club for having an argument with the club's secretary, Ray Speight (James Cromwell). Despite being the best player in Torquay, Cliff is left with no option but to work as a laborer in a pig farm, where he loses his interest in the game. One day, Cliff meets up with a group of rebels who are also passionate about the game of lawn bowls but who believe that the game needs to be modernized to make it more exciting and appealing to a younger generation. They convince Cliff to join them and form a new team to challenge the established lawn bowls community. Led by Cliff, the team gains popularity by introducing new and unconventional ways of playing the game, such as using music, costumes, and choreography, which transforms the game from a dull and monotonous sport to a showbiz extravaganza. However, the established lawn bowls community sees this as a threat to their traditional game and tries to sabotage their efforts to succeed. Furthermore, Cliff’s biggest rival is Ray Speight, who is also a talented lawn bowls player and is determined to win the Golden Bowl. Ray is Cliff's nemesis, and he tries everything in his power to stop Cliff and his team from winning the championship. But, Cliff, his team, and their revolutionary approach to the game are not easy to defeat. The movie is a classic underdog story, where the audience roots for the rebel team to win against all the odds. The actors convincingly portray their characters, and the chemistry between them is palpable. Paul Kaye's portrayal of Cliff is commendable, he captures the essence of a struggling but determined character who is willing to go the extra mile to succeed. The movie's soundtrack is a mix of classic rock and pop hits, and the music plays a significant role in setting the tone for the film. The sports action scenes are well executed, and the movie offers a fresh perspective on a traditional sport in a humorous way. Overall, National Lampoon's Blackball is an entertaining and light-hearted movie that strikes a balance between comedy and drama. It's a great movie to watch if you're in the mood for some good laughs and an inspiring underdog story.