CHAMPIONS REVIEW!!
- Matt Palmer
- Apr 4, 2023
- 2 min read
Plot: The story of a former minor league basketball coach who, after a series of missteps, is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
Cast
Woody Harrelson - Marcus
Kaitlin Olsen - Alex
Matt Cook - Sonny
Ernie Hudson - Coach Phil Perretti
Cheech Marin - Julio
Madison Tevlin - Cosentino
Joshua Felder - Darius
Kevin Iannucai - Johnny
Ashton Gunning - Cody
Matthew Von Der Ahe - Craig
Tom Sinclair - Blair
James Day Keith - Benny
Alex Hintz - Arthur
Casey Metcalfe - Marlon
Bradley Evans - Showtime
Barbara Polland - Dot
Alexandra Castillo - Judge Mary Menendez
Mike Smith - Attorney McGurk
Writer: Mark Rizzo
Director: Bobby Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber To; The Three Stooges; Hall Pass)
Rated PG-13 for strong language and crude/sexual reference (94 minutes)
Here is a real quick take for the film 'Champions'!
'Champions' is a bitter-sweet, humorous film that will probably be one of the best feel-good releases of the year. Sure, this isn't the first movie that deals with a sports coach-manager who had a run-in with the law or a fall from grace and has to eventually coach or mentor an underdog team. But, this film is really a film that should be one everyone's must-see list!
Throughout the course of the film, Woody Harrelson's character goes from being almost unlikable to being an endearing person, especially when he gets real close to the Friends (the group that he ends up coaching).
A lot of the moments that Marcus (Harrelson) coaches the group that are really hysterical and a little heart-warming at times. Marcus really helps them with quite a few things and it shows that over time he has slowly become a different person. You can also tell that the special needs actors who worked on the film had an absolute blast making the movie.
Overall, 'Champions' is such an endearing, feel-good film. It's filled with a lot of laughs and heart.
You have one last chance to see the film at the Dietrich TONIGHT (Tuesday) at 6:30! if you don't get a chance to see the film, it is also available to rent on various PVOD series or you can wait until it's available on streaming down the road!
A COUPLE TIDBITS FOR 'CHAMPIONS':
It's an English-language remake of the 2018 Spanish film of the same name.
Principal photography took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from November to December 2021.
Extras were sought via a casting call through St. Amant, a non-profit organization that works with Manitobans who have developmental disabilities and autism.
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