Mike Bassett: England Manager
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Mike Bassett: England Manager
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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 Mike Bassett: England Manager is a British sporting comedy filmed in the style of a mockumentary, with strong language and some nudity played for comedic effect. The movie is very British in its humor, satirizing the problems associated with the English national soccer team of the 1990s and 2000s. It features few positive role models but Mike (Ricky Tomlinson) does his best to apply himself and help England win the World Cup. Swearing features throughout, including "f--king," "s--t," "bollocks," and the British swear words "wanker" and "twat." Non-English soccer players -- such as Scottish, Irish, and Latin American characters -- are also referred to by ethnic and racists slurs. Much of the characterizations are deliberately based on preconceptions, but could enforce stereotypes. For example the non-British soccer players are portrayed as being more intelligent and better disciplined than their unprofessional British counterparts. There is mild nudity, mainly in the locker rooms. The movie's mockumentary format means that explicit nudity is blurred out. Drinking is occasional, typically to celebrate, with characters shown as boisterous rather than drunk. Although, one character does drink to excess off-screen and is arrested for driving under the influence.
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What's the Story?
MIKE BASSETT: ENGLAND MANAGER is the story of a soccer manager -- laughed at by the press and sporting world -- who attempts to guide his nation, England, to World Cup glory.
Is It Any Good?
Despite its underdog charm endearing it to some at the time, this 2001 British mockumentary now resembles an ancient piece of soccer history. The main problem with Mike Bassett: England Manager is that the era of the sport that it portrays -- English people skeptical of non-British players and sport science, while glorifying determination over talent -- has mostly been forgotten. England now has a national team who compete consistently in major tournaments and are no longer the laughing stock of international soccer that they were when the film was first released.
British comedy veteran Ricky Tomlinson is perfectly cast as Mike Bassett -- a stereotypical, bolshy but dedicated English manager who is treated with disdain by the sporting authorities and the press. However, he can't lift a limited script that relies on jokes that fail to hit their targets, while surrounding him with limp caricatures of England's star players of the day. The main point the movie tries to make -- that English soccer fans shouldn't expect too much of their team and that nothing will ever change -- has been shown to be a fallacy, something that probably dooms Mike Bassett to be another England manager who people struggle to remember.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the language used in Mike Bassett: England Manager. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie? How did hearing some of the terms used make you feel? How do you think the characters on the receiving end felt?
Talk about the movie's comedic tone. Did you find it funny? How did the movie use stereotypes for humor? Why can the use of stereotypes be problematic?
How did the movie use nudity for humor? Did you find these scenes funny? Why, or why not?
Discuss the mockumentary format. Have you seen this technique used before? Did you think it worked well for this story?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 28, 2001
- On DVD or streaming: January 25, 2017
- Cast: Ricky Tomlinson, Bradley Walsh, Amanda Redman
- Director: Steve Barron
- Studio: Entertainment Film Distributors
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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