 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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The Longshots
- Review Date: August 19, 2008
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Girl-powered sports film is predictable but sweet.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film, although mostly fine for younger kids, does have a few mature themes. The main character's unemployed uncle drinks a lot (out of a paper bag) and is basically a couple of notches up from being homeless. A deadbeat dad makes a brief appearance in which he once again disappoints his daughter. And a well-liked character suffers a heart attack on the football field. The language in the film is standard for a PG film ("ass" is about as strong as it gets), and there's no sexual or violent content of note.
What's the story?
Middle-schooler Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) is far from popular in her small, working-class town. She's frequently ridiculed by the school's mean girls, and she doesn't have any extracurricular interests besides reading. When she needs an afternoon sitter while her mom puts in extra hours at the local diner, Jasmine's unemployed Uncle Curtis (Ice Cube) is the only man for the job. Bored, the duo starts hanging out by a football field, where Curtis discovers that his niece has a great throw. After weeks of teaching a reluctant Jasmine football basics, Curtis convinces the Pop Warner coach (Matt Craven) to let her try out for quarterback. She's a natural, of course. The rest of the movie (which was based on a true story) focuses on how Jasmine unexpectedly leads the team to victory.
Is it any good?
Nearly every inspiring "first" in sports has already been turned into a movie. But even though there's no originality left in the genre, Palmer and Ice Cube are charming enough to lift LONGSHOTS slightly above the after-school special benchmark. Palmer, who nailed her breakthrough performance in Akeelah and the Bee, is older but still enchanting as the first female quarterback in Pop Warner history. She's a lovely young actress and deserves meatier roles than this fluffy football tale offers. Cube isn't as believable as a down-and-out borderline alcoholic, but once the football lessons start, he's much more at ease.
Despite the film's shortcomings, Limp Bizkit frontman-turned-director Fred Durst has studied the feel-good formula enough to make audiences root for the home team, even if the result isn't a true touchdown.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes Jasmine a good role model. What other positive (or negative) role models did you notice in the movie? Kids: What do you think about girls playing football? Should they be allowed to play on boys' teams if there aren't enough girls to form a separate league? Families can also discuss whether sports movies are too predictable and tear-jerking -- or whether that's just what you want in this kind of film.
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Kid, 11 years old
January 9, 2009
AGE
really good
I loved this movie. It does have a few swears ut other than that its probably ok.
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AGE
I love this movie because it shows that you can be anything you want to be if you work for it. I like seeing a girl being a quarterback.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Weinstein Co. |
| Director: | Fred Durst |
| Cast: | Dash Mihok, Ice Cube, Keke Palmer |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 94 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 20, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | December 1, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some thematic elements, mild language and brief rude humor. |
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