Review: ‘The Longshots’

Travis:

Who would’ve thought Limp Bizkit front-man Fred Durst had it in him? Not me. As it turns out, I found myself in shock and awe of how well Durst did in directing this little sleeper of a movie. ‘The Longshots’ is based on a true story (you had me at that) about Jasmine Plummer, a high school girl who spends all of her free time reading, until her single mother urges her to take up some sort of after school activity while she works late. Reluctant, Jasmine (Kiki Palmer) searches for something she’d enjoy, but can’t get past the fact that the kids at school think she’s weird and keep their distance.

Jasmine’s mother Claire (Tasha Smith) practically begs her brother-in-law Curtis (Ice Cube) to spend time with Jasmine after school so she’s not alone all the time. Curtis, a former high school football star turned unemployed slacker, agrees to keep Jasmine company against his better judgment. As the two overcome a rocky beginning to their relationship, Curtis accidentally discovers an unrefined natural talent in Jasmine that peaks his interest in spending time with her. Having never even touched a football before in her life, Jasmine shows signs of being a great quarterback as she tosses the pigskin around with Curtis after school.

Eventually, with the Mendin Browns on track for yet another pathetic season, Curtis encourages jasmine to try out for the team. With a little nudging and nagging, jasmine agrees and ultimately makes the team with a little help from Curtis’ reputation with the coaches. ‘The Longshots’ has characteristic elements familiar of ‘The Bad News Bears’ but keep in mind is based on a true story. It’s a story of a girl and a small town as they both overcome odds that are stacked against them, regaining the self-respect and dignity that they’d temporarily lost as a result of hard times.

Director Fred Durst has truly surprised me with ‘The Longshots’. It’s not the fanciest film, nor is it going to redefine any aspect of filmmaking … but, Durst has managed to make one very solid film with a lot of heart and a good story. Palmer does an excellent job as Jasmine, providing a convincing and honest portrayal of the young woman who made history as the first female to play football in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Ice Cube does a decent job of being humorous when called for and sincere when needed for the dramatic elements of his character’s story. I predict this film could become a favorite amongst sports movie enthusiasts, bringing football in the movies back down to Earth.

(3.75 Hail Mary’s out of 5)

Ram Man:

When I first saw the trailers for “The Longshots“, I thought to myself “Oh Great! its the Bad News Bears play football!”. There are similarities between the films; but there is one major difference…This is a true story! Shocker #2: the same guy that came up with the song “Nookie” directed this film and its his second time in the directors chair..yes Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. Ice Cube gives one of his better performances of late as Curtis Plummer, uncle of Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) the first girl ever to play in the Pop Warner Superbowl.

Longshots tells the story of Jasmine Plummer, an 11 year old girl, social outcast at school and being raised by her mom after her dead-beat dad ran out on the family. The Plummers live in Mindin, Illinois a town on life support since closing the factory and putting the majority of its residents out of work. This included Jasmine’s uncle Curtis. Curtis was a Mindin Football star on his way to the prosuntil an accident that robbed him of football and now is just one of the many unemployed. Curtis who spends his days sucking down Budweiser and watching the pathetic local Pop Warner football team is coerced to babysit his niece. (Its the least he can do since he’s out of work and it was his brother who took off on them). After an unexpected toss of the pigskin from Jasmine, Curtis’ football fever is reborn and now wants to mold Jasmine into a football player. Only she’s a girl.

After a few weeks Jasmine is throwing darts, up and out routes and post patterns. Keke worked on throwing and calling plays at the line of scrimmage for 6 weeks to prepare for the role. It was now time to introduce Jasmine to the team and coaches. As you might suspect it goes over like a lead balloon. After a few snaps at QB and a recreation of the famous Longest Yard play to a blitzing linebacker, Jasmine is welcomed on to the team. Popularity on the gridiron doesn’t translate into the halls of school. But it is a lot easier to navigate with 10 guys on your side. After a slight heart attack by the coach, Curtis is forced to put up or shut up and trade in his beer can for a coach’s whistle. The Mindin team goes from winless to the Pop Warner Superbowl in Miami.

It’s rare when Hollywood has to tone it down in a movie based on actual events but Longshots is one of those times. Jasmine Palmer was the first girl to play in the Pop Warner Superbowl in it’s 56 year history. But she in fact had played ball since she was 6 years old and lead the Harvey Colts to an 11-1 record where as Midland had lost 4 by the time she joined. Jasmine Palmer was an athlete and a scholar maintaining an A average while playing football for Harvey. Is Longshots the best film of the year? No, but if you need a feel good, underdog, go all the way, we’re going to do it movie to pick you up..I say GO DEEP! and check out “The Longshots“. You wont be held scoreless I guarantee it, Ram Man knows football and football movies!

[rating 3.5 out of 5- a field goal not a touchdown]

[rating: 3.25/5]

Jeremy:

In the long line of sports movies that are solely made up of sports movie cliches, ‘The Longshots’ is a film that doesn’t even seem to want to be different. The film from beginning to end is just a bland rehashing of much of what has already been played out in far better films.

The film tells the true story of Jasmine Plummer, who, in 2003 at the age of 11, became the first female to play quarterback in Pop Warner football’s then 56-year history. The screenplay fictionalizes the story, setting it in the made-up town of Minden, Illinois. In the film, the girl’s uncle, played by Ice Cube, is who initally realizes her capacity for throwing the football and who is, ultimately, the driving force behind her success.

It is an admirable story to tell. It shows how a fledgling community can rise up behind one small, seemingly insignificant aspect and triumph. The Minden of the film is a troubled community that has come on hard times since the closing of a local factory. The prospect of this girl making national news for her God-given abilities helps the people in the town come together and work towards something. For that, the film is commendable. But it’s the way the story is told and the way the script is ultimately realized that makes ‘The Longshots’ just another sports movie.

The screenplay by Nick Santora is filled with everything you would expect to find in a film about kids playing football. The jokes are predictable, the beats and subplots the film takes go just about as expected, and, even when the film attempts to be emotional or suspenseful, the direction gets in the way.

The film was directed by Fred Durst, yes, that Fred Durst, and it is strictly point and shoot filmmaking that offers nothing original. It doesn’t offer anything to distract from the script’s flaws, either. If anything, Durst’s direction only enhances the predictability and triviality the screenplay offers up.

There is one bright and shining star in this film’s field of banality, however, and that is Keke Palmer. The young actress is absolutely adorable in every scene she is in. She turned heads a few years back for her performance in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’, and she is sure to do so in years to come. The honesty she gives in her performance is the only distraction the film yields from itself, and she is truly missed in the scenes where she is either absent or hidden behind football pads.

‘The Longshots’ has tons of heart, and its intentions are good. In the end, however, that simply isn’t enough, and the film falters. The cliches abound, the score manipulates, and there is nothing we haven’t already seen before. Save for a few well put together moments, a true story that had every right to be told, and one very gifted, young actress, ‘The Longshots’ presents a bland screenplay that is executed by bland filmmaking.

[rating: 2.5/5]