MCFARLAND, USA – The Review

There was a time no too long away that the Disney company was only known for animation. But after enormous success in that arena, Uncle Walt decided he needed to branch out into live action. After dipping his toe in the water with “true-life” nature shorts, he jumped all in with several features produced and filmed in Europe. Then he went all out with 1954’s smash 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. Now, as with his animated features, these films usually played to family audiences. Walt  had something of a studio staple of stars with the likes of Fred MacMurray, Hayley Mills, and Kurt Russell , He even had the top grossing film of 1968, THE LOVE BUG. Really. After Walt passed on, the new studio heads in the 1980’s decided to branch out into more adult subject matter for new features. But these would not go out under the Disney name and so came the sub-studio imprints like Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures. The animated features and family friendly live-action fantasies would still be released through Walt Disney Pictures. In the last dozen or so years another genre has joined those two as a staple of the company: based on true events inspirational sports stories. Going back to 2002’s THE ROOKIE to MIRACLE and all the way up to last year’s MILLION DOLLAR ARM. Now this weekend sees the release of MCFARLAND, USA, which highlights a sport not often portrayed in films (but did win a Best Picture Oscar in 1981, tell you later!). Seems the “mouse house” has a pretty good-sized cinema recreational complex at the multiplex.

Once upon a time, the mid 1980’s to be exact, a high school football coach named Jim White (Kevin Costner) lost his temper with the team’s arrogant quarterback during the half-time pep talk. The result: Jim, wife Cheryl (Maria Bello), and their two young daughters, teenager Julie (Morgan Saylor) and pre-teen Jamie (Elsie Fisher) loaded up the family vehicle and headed to McFarland, CA, a sleepy, dusty little burg mainly populated by folks who left Mexico for a better life in the ole’ USA. Jim’s got to make this new job at the local high school work since he’s got no other prospects. Well, the head coach of the fightin’ football Cougars is a dimbulb and soon Jim is off the team. He’s still got his teaching gig, but needs to be in the sports department. One morning, driving in to work, he spots some of his students running along the side of the road, on their way to school. Most of the families pick crops at the big local farms. The kids wake up extra early and help their folks, and since most don’t own cars they must dash from their to class. Jim’s impressed with their speed and endurance and so tells his boss, the principal, that he will start a cross-country team. Jim faces an uphill battle recruiting students and winning over their parents, who see it as a waste of time that keeps the boys away from the fields, and the whole community. Although their cultures clash, Jim finally gets his team ready to compete, but do these hard-scrabble kids have what it takes to triumph over the big-monied schools and privileged runners?

Costner is his usual good, earnest hero persona, but in the film’s opening scenes we get to see some very welcome cracks in his gleaming gold armor. There’s an anger and fire in that locker room half-time altercation that promises some variance on the old sports flick formulas. Although some of his fury has been tempered by the time of his new job it flares again on the football field. Costner as White digs his heels in, but makes no traction against the clueless coach in charge. We also get his concerned father in the early domestic scenes. He must mask his disappointment in front of his kids as the unpack in the house that seems to be such a down grade from suburbia. But he’s a good dad, although he does mess up, particularly with his teenager who clings to him while also pushing him away. And he’s a tough, but understanding coach. He’s got to bark at the boys, but he tries to understand them, which leads to some light comic moments as the “goofy gringo” joins them to pick the fields (exhausting) or attends a family feast (they keep filling his plate!). Costner works best when he’s one of the few adults that gives them hope for a better, brighter future.

Bello makes a terrific partner to Costner as she often must serve as his coach, spurring him to do better, especially with the kids. She too must hide her initial despair, but eventually she warms to her neighbors, often stunned by their warmth, and embraces this mysterious (to her) culture. Saylor is engaging as a typical confused teen and Fisher is very sweet as she devours all the wonders of her new surroundings. Diana Maria Riva gives a lovely comic performance as the boisterous matriarch of the huge Diaz household. All the young actors who make up the running Cougars are solid despite the often stock characters (one’s a ladies’ man, one loves to eat, etc.) with Carlos Pratt standing out as the hunky speedster with the troubled home who catches the eye of Julie.

Niki Caro (NORTH COUNTRY) expertly captures the look of this little burg that may seem insignificant, but his home to fiercely protective and supportive neighbors. She also captures the dedication of these runners that’s reminiscent of CHARIOTS OF FIRE (told you I’d mention it later). There’s the heat, the exhaustion, even the monotony. And even though they’re part of a team, there’s that solitary testing of one’s abilities. Unfortunately the screenplay doesn’t avoid the culture clash clichés with the uptight wasps lightening up by being near the colorful earthy ethnics. And there’s the familiar riff on the sports underdogs, the ole’ slobs versus snobs set-up with the preppy rich competitors almost sneering at the noble Cougars. Well, the movie’s got its heart in the right place and it’s nice to see a somewhat upbeat true-story tale. So, if you’re a fan of HOOSIER-type, come from behind stories, then you’ll want to lace up your running shoes and join the team for a run around the dusty streets of MCFARLAND, USA.

3 Out of 5