Summary
Woody Harrelson plays a basketball coach who after getting into a drunk driving accident has to coach an intellectually disabled basketball team.
This film has its heart in the right place. Though some have said that it comes across as patronising towards intellectually disabled people or the issues they face, I found that despite its sometimes questionable messaging that this film was at its heart an uplifting film. Not only that but it goes out of its way to spread inclusivity and the message that anyone can be a champion and that people are so, so much more than how others classify them.
Moreover, I think Harrelson is just curmudgeonly enough to pull this role off. Though I think that the sudden change from this character being a self-interested narcissist to learning to love second place and to be happy with what he has was incredibly rushed. I think his performance commands real emotion and that he has great chemistry with his on-screen love interest played by Katlin Olsen.
The plot is incredibly cliched and generic and all the hallmarks of classic feel good sports films make an appearance, so much so that you could turn it into a bingo game fairly easily if you wanted to.
Overall, a happy uplifting film that doesn’t always land its’ the message.
3/5
Pros.
Harrelson
Olsen
It is uplifting and restores your faith in humanity
Cons.
It is incredibly cliched
It can come off as patronising at times
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Another Millennial Reviewer 