Sports
Sports movie reviews
McFarland USA-Kids’ Movie Review
Inspired by the 1987 true story, McFarland USA follows the life of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner). Jim has a hard time keeping a teaching/coaching job, as his temper gets the best of him. Eventually Jim and his family head to McFarland, Ca, an impoverished agricultural community, where he accepts a job teaching Science and PE. Jim sees the potential of these hard-working Latino boys, and starts a cross country team. Jim not only coaches these boys to become better athletes, he instills some valuable lessons that change their lives forever.
Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 2, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will It Appeal to Most Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
- There are wonderful messages and inspirational scenes. Initially the Whites are uneasy about their new environment, and the Latino community feels the same about their new arrival. However, both cultures learn to accept and appreciate each other. Great parent/child conversation.
- Coach White stresses the importance of school and attending college.
- Young kids may get bored, as it is slow in parts.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There’s talk of a teenage girl who got pregnant out of wedlock.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- We see a guy wearing a bloodied t-shirt after getting into a fight. The fight is off-screen.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “d–n,” and “a-s.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking beer and tequila.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a group of middle school age boys who really liked the film. They run cross country, and said they can relate to the strenuous work outs.
Overall this is a wonderful inspirational sports drama, one for the whole family.
McFarland USA-Kids’ Movie Review
Foxcatcher-Teen Movie Review
They are brothers, best friends and Olympic gold medal wrestlers. Since childhood Dave (Mark Ruffalo) and Mark (Channing Tatum) Schultz have wrestled; they work hard, train together and make each other better. Their lives drastically change the day Mark receives a phone call from millionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell). John has a vision to create a world-class wrestling facility at his estate in Pennsylvania…Foxcatcher Farm. John wants the best, so of course he pursues Mark and Dave Schultz. Continue reading
23 Blast-Kids movie review
Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka) has it all, he is a high school football star, he is very intelligent and he is a ladies’ man. However Travis’ life suddenly changes in the fall of his junior year; he is infected with bacterial meningitis and becomes blind. 23 Blast highlights Travis’ life, and how this teenage boy handles his devastating setback. Based on an inspirational true story about friendship, family and hope.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 13, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
Initially Travis locks himself in his bedroom, wondering why this happened. However, after several months he eventually learns to accept his handicap and makes the most of his life. Great parent/ child conversation.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two teenagers passionately kiss.
- Mild, innocent flirting amongst teens.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- We see hard hits on the football field
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “D–n,” and “h–l,” are said.
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
- We see teenagers at a party drinking out of red cups. One boy drinks right out of the keg and is shown drunk.
- We see a troubled teen drinking beer.
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Overall this is an inspirational sports drama. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.
When The Game Stands Tall-Kids Movie Review
It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. That’s what legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) truly believed. Bob Ladouceur coached the De La Salle High School football team, from Concordia, California, to win 151 consecutive games, breaking all records for any American sport. Inspired by a true story, When The Game Stands Tall is an inspirational sports drama about a coach who taught his players valuable life lessons about character, conviction, faith and humility.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 9, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Talking Points:
This is a sports movie, but it’s not all about sports. Coach Ladouceur’s goal is to shape his players to be young men of character, with conviction and faith. He wants to be a positive impact on and off the field. Great parent/child conversations.
Coach Lad doesn’t expect his players to play perfect, but to give a perfect effort.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A high school boy and his girlfriend kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Two teammates get into a brawl.
- A character is shot and murdered. We hear four gun shots, then we see his body on the ground.
- A player’s father grabs and shakes his son, he even punches him in the stomach.
- The players visit a VA hospital, we see soldiers without limbs.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- In one scene we see a high school party, where students are drinking alcoholic beverages.
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Overall this is a wonderful sports drama. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids 10 and up.
Million Dollar Arm
Life is good for bachelor JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm), he has a beautiful home in Los Angeles, model girl friends, and fast cars. However, that could all change quickly if his business doesn’t pick up. JB was once a very successful sports agent, though with the fierce competition his business was slowly failing. After watching Indian cricket one night on TV, JB got the idea to create a contest in India to find the best bowler (the pitcher in cricket), dubbed as “Million Dollar Arm.” Before you know it JB is on his way to Mumbai announcing the nationwide contest. Continue reading