The Longshots | Christian Toto reviews, DVD, Family | DONNE TEMPO
The Longshots
"The Longshots" stars Ice Cube as Curtis, an out of work slacker forced to spend some time with his bookworm niece, Jasmine (Palmer, "Akeelah and the Bee"). The two can't seem to connect, but that changes when he teaches her how to throw a football.
She's a natural. She's so good, in fact, that he convinces the coach of the local Pop Warner team to try her out as their quarterback. Who cares that it's an all-boy squad and that no girl has ever played at this level before.
Before you can say Title IV, Jasmine is taking snaps and leading the once-awful team toward the playoffs.
"The Longshots" begins with a credible portrait of a working class town as down on its luck as Curtis is. He wears the same smelly clothes every day and seems more comfortable nursing a beer than making something of his life. Few actors grumble and grouse better than Ice Cube, and the early scenes of him bonding with Jasmine are clearly the best the film has to offer.
The duo are aided by Garrett Morris, who plays the local preacher who serves up some old-fashioned lessons regarding self reliance and pride.
The goods: "The Longshots" isn't just a squeaky clean drama for the whole family. It's chock full of quality lessons for both young and old viewers.
Curtis wisely teaches his young players not to dance and sing in the end zone. "Act like you've been there before," he growls, offering up some old school advice. And it's a shock to realize just who directed the film - hard rocker Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit fame.
The Mandatory Extras: Deleted scenes and a "making of" features. Plus, interviews with star Ice Cube, director Durst and "Jasmine Plummer: The Real Longshot." Plummer is an endearing young woman and a gifted athlete who excels at more than just throwing a football, we learn. Her real-life uncle also appears here, detailing the peculiar obstacles she faced during that fateful football season.
Durst sounds like a veteran film director, breaking down his directorial debut with finesse and precision, It's also a treat to hear him reminisce about his touring days alongside Ice Cube, and how their reteaming came courtesy of an entirely different medium.
Above and Beyond: "The Longshots" falters when it falls back on sports film clichés, but the engrossing first half and two sterling performances set it apart from the casual family flick.
— Christian Toto
