Champions
This basketball comedy follows a familiar playbook, but scores big with plenty of heart and a loveable cast.
PRE GAME 🏀
Welcome back to Balls on Film! 👋🏻
I hope you guys have had a good week. I’ve been trying to watch as many of this year’s Oscar nominations as I can. I’ve got Conclave to watch next, but so far I must say - I would absolutely love for The Substance to win Best Picture. I know it’ll never happen, and the fact that a horror movie was even nominated is a huge deal in itself, but it would be fantastic to see such an upset. I don’t think I’ve had a more fun movie theatre experience this year.
In some personal news, it’s been about a year since I had my surgery to remove skin cancer. I had my next checkup this week, and got the all clear and the doctor doesn’t have any concerns at present. It’s something I’ll always have to keep an eye on and have checked regularly, but it was such a huge relief to hear. With spring approaching, and then summer not too far behind it, make sure you’re taking care of your skin out there!
I was thinking about some newer or more niche sports earlier that haven’t featured in movies yet, and it got me wondering what the next new sub-genre will be? I’m genuinely amazed that we haven’t gotten a pickleball movie yet. If we have and I just don’t know about it, please let me know.
For now though, let’s turn our attention to basketball. With the second half of the NBA season underway, I wanted to get back on to the court for this week’s review. Side note: how bad was that NBA All Star game? The whole weekend has been going downhill for a while now, but this most recent one reached all new levels of terrible. I really don’t know how they fix it…
Anyway, let’s get to Champions!
FIRST HALF 🏀
Sports movies have a way of tugging at your heartstrings - perhaps that’s why I enjoy them so much. Champions is no exception, and while it doesn’t break the sports movie mould by any means, its sincerity, heart and an absolutely joyous cast allow it to stand on its own. A remake of a 2018 Spanish movie (which I’ve not seen yet), it’s one of the most feel-good movies I’ve watched in a while.
The story follows Woody Harrelson as Marcus, a hot-tempered assistant coach minor-league basketball team (‘The Friends’). His career takes a dive after he gets into a fight with his head coach (Ernie Hudson) during a game, and then gets involved in a drunk driving incident. As punishment, he’s sentenced to community service, coaching a team of players with intellectual disabilities, which he reluctantly accepts. You already know where I’m going with this. He’s initially skeptical, but soon finds himself forming genuine bonds with his players. He also discovers that a woman he previously had a one night stand with is related to one of the players on the team. As I said before, the setup is all very predictable and borrows from many sports movie beats you’d seen a million times, but that’s not what makes Champions memorable.
One of the film’s biggest strengths is its sincere and respectful portrayal of the team, played by a super-talented cast of actors with intellectual disabilities. Over one hundred actors auditioned for the movie, and the production team also worked with disability-focused organisations to ensure authenticity and accessibility throughout filming, which I loved reading about after watching. The whole team are absolutely brilliant, and you can tell how much fun everyone is having here. Their interactions with Harrelson are incredibly funny and heart-warming, and he’s stated in various interviews how proud he is of the movie. It’s easy to see why. I loved Kevin Iannucci as Johnny, and thought Madison Tevlin really stole the show as Cosentino, and delivered the biggest laughs. The scene where she first meets Harrelson is a standout.
Harrelson himself turns in a solid performance. I’m a sucker for the cynical grumpy character whose icy exterior begins to melt as they grow as a person. His performance feels very genuine, and knowing how much the film meant to him makes it feel that little bit extra special too. I’ve been enjoying quite a bit of Harrelson’s later work recently (Suncoast, anyone?) and he’s pretty much perfectly cast here. Kaitlin Olson is also really good, and her character adds some welcome emotional depth outside of the main storyline. She also delivers one of the absolute best lines of dialogue in the film, which had me cracking up. I’m actually surprised she wasn’t promoted more as part of the film, or featured on any of the posters.
The film is undeniably heartwarming, and it knows exactly what it is. It’s predictable, and pretty much sticks to all of the typical beats of the genre - angry coach learns life lesson, scrappy underdog team overcoming the odds, a redemption arc - it’s all here. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s not trying to do anything else. It’s a movie that wears its heart on its sleeve, and wants to fill you with joy and make you laugh. On that basis, it’s a slam dunk. It’s perhaps a smidge too long at just over two hours, but I was in no hurry for it to end.
Champions doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and at times can feel like it’s going through a checklist of common sports movie beats, but it’s a genuinely feel-good, uplifting watch with a lot of heart and a wonderful cast. It’s safe and comforting, and in these often dreary and bleak times, sometimes that’s all that you need.
Champions is available to rent or purchase on most digital platforms, and currently streaming on Netflix.
HALFTIME 🍿
Let’s take a break for halftime.
Here’s what else I’ve been watching this week:
The Monkey
I had a real blast with The Monkey. Firstly, it’s so much funnier than I was expecting. This is a dark comedy with a real mean streak. Like Final Destination meets Stephen King, and definitely one to see on the big screen. If you’re expecting another Longlegs, or something that’s going to scare you, then you might be disappointed. The Monkey is an absurd, darkly comic splatter-fest that will keep you entertained though.
The Monkey is in theatres now.
You’re Cordially Invited
Years ago, this would have been a cinema movie for sure. It doesn’t reinvent the genre or offer anything super memorable, but it’s just a simple, enjoyable watch. I miss the days when movies like this could hit theatres and do well. Funny, easy viewing but perhaps a bit too long.
You’re Cordially Invited is streaming on Prime Video.
The Gorge
I’ve seen some real hate online for The Gorge since its release, but I think it’s all a bit unfair. Is it corny? Yes. Is the dialogue a bit choppy at times? Indeed. Is it still ridiculous, over-the-top fun? Absolutely. It does veer a bit into YA action territory at times, and I’d have actually preferred more of a horror-mystery, but it was still a pretty fun time.
The Gorge is streaming on Apple TV+
Speaking of Apple TV, how good does this look?
As usual, let me know what you’re watching or what you’re planning to go see. Let’s get back on to the field!
SECOND HALF 🏀
Let’s jump into some awards and bonus content.
BEST SCENE 🏆
I loved the scene where Marcus meets Cosentino for the first time.
BEST LINE 🏆
Cosentino: “Your heart's a long way from your knee. Suck it up!”
This one made me laugh. Cosentino has some of the best lines in the movie.
MVP AWARD 🏆
Woody Harrelson is great here, but it’s Madison Tevlin. She steals the show.
TRIVIA HIGHLIGHT 🏆
Per IMDb:
Just as the credits start rolling, Woody Harrelson is playing the piano and singing a song which he composed. (The song is named Phoenix.)
BEST LETTERBOXD REVIEW 🏆
I genuinely had the same thought when I hit play on this. This would have been a great continuation of that character.
BONUS FEATURES 💿
This is a really fun, sweet interview with Woody Harrelson and some of the other cast that’s well worth watching:
And here’s a great interview with Madison Tevlin on making the movie:
And here’s the trailer for the original movie:
POST-GAME 🏀
Next week, we’re going to continue our Rocky review series, as
returns to talk all things Rocky Balboa.I’d like to hear your thoughts on what you’d like to see in upcoming reviews. Are there any movies in particular that you’d like me to cover soon? Are there any sports movie sub-genres that I’ve not covered yet, that you’d like me to?I’m open to suggestions, so let me know in the comments!
As always, let me know what you thought of this week’s movie!
See you next week! 👋🏻
~James
My personal request would be "Sugar", the gorgeous and realistic minor league baseball movie from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who went on to helm "Captain Marvel".
Congratulations on your ongoing recovery!
B-B-B-B-B-BASKETBAAAAALL!
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
Added to my watchlist now, thanks James