Movie Review: Woody Harrelson in Bobby Farrelly’s “Champions”

There is hardly a word or movement in it master Like you’ve never seen before, but in a very understated way, this goofball minor basketball yarn exudes enough endearing and slightly raw charm to bring a smile to the faces of sports fans. Woody Harrelson makes the most of his role as a versatile minors coach whose last job is likely to be coaching a bunch of disabled minors in representative form. It’s very easy to imagine a bunch of middle-aged men sitting at home or at a bar on the subway taking a few drags while having a good time with this one.

The screenplay, written by Mark Rizzo, is based on the 2018 Spanish comedy camps, directed by Javier Fesser and inspired by a real team. The new film is definitely set in the American Midwest, although many of its biggest fans may be Canadian (the film was shot in Canada). From the start, it’s easy to see that Harrelson’s middle-aged Marcus Markovich hasn’t outgrown his temper-tantrum childhood; As an introduction, Marcus is seen angrily pushing his J-League team’s coach.

Unsurprisingly, the man’s bad behavior has reduced his job prospects from minimal to zero, as he even abuses his temporarily entrusted athletes on the field at a local gym. They are certainly a motley crew, a mix of clumsy, serious and not particularly coordinated players who don’t exactly inspire athletic ability. They certainly deserve credit for being game and trying their hand at their sport, but you’d never believe that trophies would lie in the future of any of these athletes.

When the ruthless Marcus is diagnosed DUI, the local hanging judge sentences the good old boy to 90 days of community service, which in this case means coaching a motley crew of young misfits in their quest for fame and glory. Since the prospective athletes, some of whom have significant mental and physical disabilities, lack anything like peak athletic performance, a program is initially assumed to be aimed more at exercise than athletic performance. ; In the earlier scenes, some cannot take pictures at all.

Off the field, Marcus begins spending time with local country beauty Alex (Kaitlin Olson), who is strong enough to counter the man’s Bs and smart and attractive enough to inspire him to shape his actions. The man’s newfound purpose in life translates into his athletic pursuits, and while it’s hard to believe that this ragtag team could ever be truly athletic, opponents always seem far better placed to get the basketball where it needs to be—they wish they could. the home team – you know you are suddenly in a new phase where a previously lazy man decides to turn around, put in some serious effort and take things seriously.

It doesn’t mean that master suddenly change from comic to dramatic; Director Bobby Farrelly can’t help but take every opportunity for hilarity that comes his way, to the point that the funny almost always prevails when the opportunity presents itself. The film wins and loses in its desire to be a true romantic comedy rather than just a laugh fest, and it’s odd indeed that the much more athletic big boys take most of their shots and even do a few slam dunks while the messes Little are boys and girls are usually much smaller, but win battles on their way to defeat the bigger thugs.

Harrelson is fully convincing and entertaining as the mischievous boy who is finally brought into line in a good way; the actor is here in his wheelhouse delivering. Olson is very attractive, if a little imaginative, as the woman who finally inspires this man to get in shape well past his sell-by date.