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Little Loopers
By Renee Schonfeld,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Trite underdog kid golfer tale has crass language, alcohol.
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Little Loopers
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What's the Story?
Poor "Hutch" McGee (Boyd Kestner). By the time we meet him in LITTLE LOOPERS, he has lost his place on the golf tour, is drinking too much, lives in a trailer, and gets the bulk of his income from hustling saps at money games on the golf course. He and his partner, Big Earl (Rob Morrow), own a dreary course in the California desert that they won on a bet. But things are about to change for Hutch. After a fight with an obnoxious bully, Hutch smashes the guy's car with a golf club, is "retained" by law enforcement, and ultimately is sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service, which comes in the form of coaching five kids who want to play golf. They're four boys and a girl -- a wisecracker, a nice kid, an academically precocious one, a smart mouth, and a golf superstar -- each a member of a class that Hutch hates: kids. The only positive thing in the deal is the community worker who sets it up; Kristen (Natalie Imbruglia) has possibilities. What motivates Hutch, besides the kids themselves, is Todd (Jay R. Ferguson, in repulsive mode), an opposition coach who embodies everything that competition shouldn't be. Matters come to a head when Hutch makes a last-ditch effort to get back on the professional tour but would have to disappoint the kids to make it work.
Is It Any Good?
No surprises, no nuance, no inspiration in this disappointing underdog sports story; kids and golf deserve better. Despite an engaging, solid performance by lead actor Boyd Kestner as William "Hutch" McGee, the movie simply doesn't work. Situations are hackneyed, characters are one-dimensional, and the direction is by the numbers, with Jim Valdez making many questionable artistic choices and allowing some of his performers to overact mercilessly. On the plus side, Valdez has enlisted some fine character actors for the film: Rob Morrow and Mark Moses are fine in smaller roles. Given the number of available meaningful, entertaining, and rousing sports stories centered on kids, teens, and coaches, this one is a time-waster.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of sports stories in which a new coach helps a struggling team reach great success. What is it about these tales that audiences find so appealing? What are some of the filmmaking components that separate a good sports movie from a mediocre or bad one?
In film terms, what does "predictable" mean? How is this movie predictable? How is it original?
Why did Art's dad change his attitude about his son's love of golf? Do you think there was enough motivation to inspire that change? Did the situation seem real to you? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 4, 2015
- Cast: Boyd Kestner , Natalie Imbruglia , Rob Morrow
- Director: Jim Valdez
- Studio: Brand, Inc. Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Friendship
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 19, 2023
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