Home Team
Home Team
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Home Team is based on the true story of New Orleans Saints' head coach Sean Payton (Kevin James), who was suspended for a season due to an investigation related to the team's bounty scandal (players were allegedly paid to injure opposing players). During his leave, Payton helped coach his tween son's underdog football team, which the film portrays as a ragtag team of nice, diverse kids who try hard and always support one another. Even once they start winning, the team doesn't lose sight of more important priorities, teaching Payton lessons in humility and compassion. Expect some strong language, including "hell," "damn," "ass," "butthole," (which Netflix's English subtitles replaced with "a--hole"), "suck," "heck," "stupid," "crap," "son of a…," and "oh my God." A character who's known to have an alcohol dependency is often the butt of jokes. Someone jokes about "ending it all" with a toaster and a jacuzzi, and there's an accidental fire that torches a tree and a car. A really gross scene involves mass projectile vomiting. One man shows another an uncensored picture of his wife giving birth, though the photo isn't seen on screen. A middle school boy has a crush on a girl; he serenades her, and later she blows him a kiss. Football is depicted as a violent game, but one with benefits for its players.
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What's the Story?
Pro football coach Sean Payton (Kevin James) is put on administrative leave while under investigation by the NFL in HOME TEAM. He decides to go home to small-town Texas to visit his estranged son, Connor (Tait Blum). Initially planning to stay just a few days, Sean starts to take an interest in Connor's ragtag middle school football team, the Warriors. Their coach, Troy (Taylor Lautner), asks Sean to help them out. Connor isn't too sure about his dad's sudden presence in his life, but his mom, Beth (Jackie Sandler), and stepdad, Jamie (Rob Schneider), welcome Sean into the fold, and the kids on the team are excited when they finally start winning games. What's uncertain is what will happen if and when Sean is allowed back to his pro job in New Orleans, and whether that will come before or after the Warriors' season ends.
Is It Any Good?
Popular actors, a cast of lovable tween boys, and a wholesome tone make this feel-good comedy a natural audience pleaser. Home Team starts with a compelling (but ultimately glossed over) true story and mixes in a slew of goofy secondary characters and situations. The production also feels like a family affair, with siblings, spouses, and other relatives of producer Adam Sandler and star James in various roles. There's definitely some verging-on-tasteless, Sandler-style humor in this film, including making steady fun of a character who is an alcoholic and a torrential bout of projectile vomiting.
But other bits are very funny, like Schneider's stereotypical hippie stepdad (who brings his special tea to games and "makes his own lavender soap"), an inept hotel manager, and the tween team's jubilant celebration party at the hotel pool ("this is what it feels like to win"). As a Super Bowl-winning coach down on his luck, James exudes the confidence of a successful man who knows his game. Lautner is his ideal counterpart, letting him take center stage both as actor and character. The boys on the team are portrayed as adorably innocent middle schoolers who keep a positive attitude in the face of total defeat and maintain their values even once they start winning. A scene where they all go as wingmen to sing back-up when one of their teammates serenades a girl he likes is memorably cute.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Connor is so unwelcoming of his dad at first in Home Team. Why would he feel uncomfortable with his dad coaching his team?
How do the boys on the Warriors team show teamwork on and off the field? Why is this such an important character strength?
What lessons does Sean Payton learn from his son and the other boys during his time on forced leave from the Saints?
The film is based on a true story. Where could you go for more information about Payton and the controversy surrounding the bounty program that got him suspended? Do you think the film does a good job explaining the controversy and Payton's role in it? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 28, 2022
- Cast: Kevin James, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider
- Directors: Charles Kinnane, Daniel Kinnane
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Friendship
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Humility, Teamwork
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: crude material, language and some suggestive references
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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