Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poorly made sexist sports movie has lots of name-calling.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Just for Kicks
What's the Story?
In JUST FOR KICKS, Cole and Dylan Sprouse (long before they made a name for themselves on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) play two boys who love soccer. When their father (Tom Arnold), the head coach of their soccer team, has to leave in a hurry to attend to important business, it's up to their mother and aunt to take over coaching duties. At first, things look quite grim for their team, the Terriers, and parents start to pull their kids off the team over the idea of a woman as a soccer coach. But when a mysterious man starts to help Cole and Dylan at random times, both with soccer and with life, the team starts to improve, and it starts to look like the team might become champions after all.
Is It Any Good?
The sexism on display makes it incredible to believe that this movie was released in 2003. As if parents taking their kids off of a soccer team over the idea of a woman being a head coach isn't enough, there's enough bullying, name-calling, and sophomoric humor on display to make Just for Kicks a movie to avoid.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about women in sports. How does Just for Kicks approach the idea of women coaching sports? Who are some examples of successful women coaches?
Have you seen kids who are pushed too hard by their parents to succeed in sports, or have you seen kids who make mistakes while playing sports made fun of because of it? How realistically does this movie portray these issues?
What do you think this movie's message is about bullying?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 16, 2003
- Cast : Cole Sprouse , Dylan Sprouse , Tom Arnold
- Director : Sydney J. Bartholomew Jr.
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, mild crude humor, and momentary violence
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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