 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hoosiers
- Review Date: August 8, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1986
Common Sense Media says
A tale of heroic sportsmanship.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the emotional intensity here is of the "who will win?" variety. The movie also deals with alcoholism, but features the redemption of two adult leads.
What's the story?
HOOSIERS is a stirring movie about teamwork, discipline, and second chances that features exciting basketball action and a meticulous re-creation of 1950s Indiana. Hired to coach a small-town high school team, Norm Dale (Gene Hackman) searches for personal redemption in his quest to lead the underdogs of Hickory High School to victory at the state championships. In a memorable scene, Dale gets a lecture from a group of locals on how things are done in Hickory: You need to be a God-fearing man, you must always set a fine example for the boys, and, more importantly, you mustn't mess with the traditional zone defense. With help from assistant coach Shooter (Dennis Hopper), a recovering alcoholic, Dale and his team surprise everyone in Indiana by making it all the way to the state finals.
Is it any good?
Much more than a sports flick, Hoosiers is a great movie for families to watch and enjoy together. This slice of Americana conforms to the rules of sports movies, but manages to transcend the genre. The barest of plots is fleshed out by an electric Gene Hackman. And the renewal of Dennis Hopper's character -- whose emotional wounds are more openly visible than Hackman's -- smartly doubles the redemption factor.
The writing is strong and wonderfully sly. To its credit, the movie gets the details right, starting with the passion that high school basketball elicits. Even the compulsory practice scenes are played with a fervor and realism that is compelling, and the David vs. Goliath aspect gives the movie an extra punch. The movie occasionally succumbs to sports-movie clichés such as "aren't you the kind who'd rather look for a fight than run away from one?" and there's an obligatory love subplot. Another quibble is that it's sometimes hard to tell the healthy, corn-bred players apart.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about other sports movies. What is appealing about them? Do you ever doubt the outcome? What kind of feelings do they stir up? How does this one compare and contrast to other sports films you've seen?
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AGE
Great but ehhhh for 10 and under
Okay... So I agree with all the other comments, that this is a four or five star movie. I agree. But when I watched this with my 9 year old son who is a BIG sport lover, I felt that some of the parts that just put a chill through your spine. Not the chill that you get in Black Swan but the chill for a kids movie. I thought the language was not necessary and I also felt that emotionally and just seeing it that my son was not ready to learn about the mans achool problems and why he was tipsy, and so on. No sex...just the teenage kisses on the cheek. I think that this is a great movie but maybe the points and morals are a little too strong for younger kids.
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AGE
Good film about a person who sticks to what he believes under tremendous pressure from the towns people to do things differently. Kids play hard and fair, with a few transgressions. The coach has a temper and it gets him into trouble, but there is remorse and improvement. Very positive movie. Filming is well-done and beautiful. Might be a little slow for under 11 yr olds, but the games are exciting and tense.
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AGE
Breathtaking
I'm not sure at what age this movie would be engaging for a kid. Perhaps earlier for a sports enthusiast kid. But this is an awesome movie that really captures a feeling and a sense of place and time. Having lived in southern Indiana, I can confirm the passion for basketball - it's a core of small town life. The game scenes are also beautifully shot and very exciting. And the redemption message is powerful.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 29, 2011
AGE
Great Sports Movie!
Great movie. Get's intense at the end, but overall, great for 8 and up!
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AGE
Sickness in the movies
i thought it was okay.. i play basketball and i loved the basketball in the movie.. but at points it was hard to follow and boring. but if you watch it with your kids you are to hhave a good time. and if you look past the basketball games and how good the players are you are sure to find a message worth searching for.
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AGE
A Classic Tale of the Underdog
The story of a coach with a troubled past and an unmotivated team who like to do things their way.
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AGE
Heartwarming Story
I think that Hooisers is a great movie for every sports lover and team. The story tells of a banned college coach since served in the Navy for the past 10 years. When his old friend offers him a job as basketball coach of the Hickory Huskers, many of the townspeople critize his new ways of coaching. I loved the effect of Jimmy Chitwood's decision to play basketball after the father-like figure of his former coach dies, in order save Coach Dale's job. The only issues I have for it are the Alcohol refrences, profanity, and violence. The assistant basketball coach, Shooter, has an alcohol addiction which becomes a issue for the team, and one of its key players. Like most sports movies, motivated and angry coaches can throw out profanity when upset about a decision. There are several fights withen the movie and the coach was fired from is old position because of his striking a athlete on his college team. Overall, I thought it was a great movie for older children and adults.
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Kid, 10 years old
March 31, 2012
AGE
Good Review
This movie is great but one thing that suprised me was they didnt put down anything for drinking which I thought was pretty weird since one of the main characters is drunk. And why I put down violence was because in a couple b-ball games there are big fights in one a kid has to get 8 stitches
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | David Anspaugh |
| Cast: | Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Gene Hackman |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 114 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 14, 1986 |
| DVD release date: | May 1, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic intensity |
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