Review: "The Longshots"

Seen on: August 24, 2008

The players: Director: Fred Durst, Writer: Nick Santora, Cast: Ice Cube , Keke Palmer, Tasha Smith, Jill Marie Jones, Dash Mihok

Facts of interest: Fred Durst also directed "The Education of Charlie Banks."

The plot: A former high school football star turns his niece into the star quarterback of the local team.

Our quick thoughts: If you’re currently keeping a lookout for a traditional feel-good movie that doesn’t dare stepping into new territory, make sure you see “The Longshots,” which is based on the true story of an 11-year-old girl who became the first female to play in the Pop Warner football tournament.

Keke Palmer stars as Jasmine Plummer, a smart high schooler who buries her head in her fantasy novels and isn’t exactly the most popular girl in school. When her mother picks up an extra shift at the city diner, Jasmine gets to hang out with her sluggish uncle Curtis (Ice Cube), a former high school football star who brings new light into her life when he turns her into the quarterback of the local team.

It’s pretty easy to figure out where the story is heading from here, because “The Longshots” plays it strictly by the book. The film delivers just what you would expect from a standard inspirational sports drama, with Jasmine and Curtis forming a strong bond that will eventually boost their morale and help them discover who they really are and where they belong.

Because the plot doesn’t offer much besides plenty of saccharine dialogue and many other conventions of the genre, I strongly recommend walking into the movie with low expectations. But that doesn’t necessarily mean “The Longshots” isn’t worth the trip to the theater. Its story line boasts several fairly entertaining sequences, including a handful of practice sessions and just the right dose of well coordinated football action.

Additionally, Fred Durst’s direction keeps the film operating at a decent enough pace. The Limp Bizkit frontman certainly doesn’t break new ground here, but his effort behind the camera deserves encouragement. While Ice Cube delivers yet another dry performance as Jasmine’s coach, it’s newcomer Keke Palmer (“Akeelah and the Bee”) who’s injecting her character with all the necessary energy to light up the screen.

Freaky quote: “We gonna play fast, we gonna play loose, and we gonna play for each other." – Ice Cube

The final word: Despite all the formulaic talking and a rather predictable plot, “The Longshots” is undoubtedly heartwarming enough to at least please the younger crowd. And as for Ice Cube, it’s definitely the best he’s done since 2004’s “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.” Now that’s something!      

Article by Franck Tabouring

Comments

[westsounds]

As a high school girl, I and my friends love this film so much
westsounds