New Line Cinema and Mosaic Media Group present an R rated, 90 minute sports comedy directed by Kent Alterman and starring Will Ferrell (Jackie Moon), Woody Harrelson (Monix), Andre Benjamin (Clarence 'Coffee' Black), Maura Tierney (Lynn), Andrew Daly (Dick Pepperfield), Will Arnett (Lou Redwood), Andy Richter (Bobby Dee), David Koechner (Commissioner), Rob Corddry (Kyle), Matt Walsh (Father Pat the Referee), Jackie Earle Haley (Dukes), DeRay Davis (Bee Bee Ellis), Josh Braaten (Twiggy Munson), Jay Phillips (Scootise Double Day), Peter Cornell (Vakidis), Kristen Wiig (Bear Handler) with a special appearance by Patti LaBelle (Jackie's angel mother) and a number of ball girls.
Who has the greatest fro on earth? Of course, it's that sexy man with the voice of an angel who sings, "Love me Sexy". None other than the coach and owner of the Flint, Michigan basketball team, the Tropics, Jackie Moon. A film surely to throw you back in time to the year of leisure suits, leisure sex, leisure fun and afro's as far as the eye can see, 1976.
Jackie has a team that's high on promotions but low on attendance, money, skills and overall team spirit. He is filled with promotional ideas to try and get an audience, $10,000 he doesn't have, even for a drug addict out to score a long shot, or even corn dogs for a hungry crowd of hundreds. Trying to keep the team afloat he hears that the Tropics may have a chance of merging with the NBA but only if they place in the top four teams at the end of the season. A boost from his motto, "ELE", known as "Everybody Love Everybody" and trading a washing machine to the Kentucky team for a new player, Monix, he feels like he has the opportunity to win. Albeit, male bonding comes into play many times during this film whether over a jive turkey roulette game of poker or just the art of puking, these men are a team to watch and maybe fear!
Even though Monix has a motive besides basketball in Flint, Lynn, his love interest of which he originally lost due to what some men tend to do best, cheating, he soon takes on the role as coach of the team to whip them into shape strategically. All those years on the bench at the NBA apparently taught him well! Since Monix is coaching, Jackie takes on more promotional ideas in order to get 2000 people in the stands to appease the commissioner, many involving the lack of animal testing, more animal impersonations and just plain animals of the big, sharp fanged hairy species. As fast as they can count 1,2,3, lets get tropical, the team gets turned around and starts to show promise along with spirit, thanks to some 'coffee black' and that of an 'Alley Oop' angel.
In the beginning there was the creation of fire, along came the submarine and ultimately the Flint Michigan Mega Bowl, with many occurrences in between of course. Even though many rules changed along the way it was a small town that helped a losing team become filled with pride and bear it all in the end.
Overall, I still believe, "Talladega Nights" was my favorite Ferrell film but he surprised me once again that his idiotic raunchy slapstick humor can make a film about nothing turn into an enjoyable 90 minute experience. There are many lines that get lost along the way and I'm not sure I would watch this spoof on basketball in the disco age of the 70's again in order to recoup them, although I loved the disco era, but it will definitely keep you entertained. Ferrell, once again makes you love him in the leading comedic role delivering his lines with a natural yet gross-like sex appeal. Harrelson does his role justice as usual even though he plays a more straight man than funny man. Tierney, where have you been since ER? Although her role is small and a bit insignificant she still pulls it off, albeit a bit cold and unemotional! Corddry, even though a masturbating sexaholic was more memorable than her.
As for the supporting players like the team, the radio announcers and Bobby Dee, played by Richter, a lost but recovered soul, they helped to bring much levity, substance and dry humor to a somewhat far out script. Overall, good direction and some hysterical camera angles but it is truly the actors and the score that keeps the air in this bouncing ball. Filled with stunts, high on story low on sports action and some bouncing T&A along with strong language this film is sure to attract many fans out to take their house for a stroll to the theatre. But, hey I liked it and I left my house at home!
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.