Ok…I’m sensing a theme here for the first part of the year as far as non-animated family films go. Could this be the Armageddon/Deep Impact grouping of 2015? If you’ll remember just a few weeks back we told you about a great little film called Spare Parts in which a team of impoverished Latino students band together to win a robotics competition against the likes of M.I.T.. This week we have McFarland USA a film about a group of impoverished Latino students who band together to compete in track. You can see the similarities beginning, and really that’s where the end…other than the fact that both are surprisingly good. To dig a bit deeper McFarland USA is more of your traditional “white savior” film (think Dangerous Minds) and, like most films of its kind, is based on a true story. The biggest difference between this film and the aforementioned Spare Parts is that this film focuses more on its star with the kids being more structure by which Costner can reach redemption. Kevin Costner plays Jim White, a teacher who has gone through more jobs than underwear thanks to a short fuse and willingness to light it. Thanks to this he doesn’t exactly have the pick of the litter when it comes to job assignment so accepting a job as gym teacher and asst. coach of a high school football team is a no-brainer. The job brings him and his family to McFarland, CA a town populated mostly by migrant workers putting Jim and his family in a ready-made “fish out of water” situation. Once his attitude gets the best of him again and he’s thrown off of the coaching staff of the school’s football team White notices something that’s escaped everyone else. The Latino students, who are working in the fields with their parents whenever they are not at school, are perfectly primed to be part of a winning cross-country team. Apparently, by the way, cross country is a recent invention. I know right? Surprised me to, I would have thought that people have been running really, really far at an even pace competitively for centuries.
Now, were you to stop reading there and decide that there’s no point in seeing this film since it’s the same thing you’ve seen time after time you’d be wrong. Well, half wrong at least. The film is entirely predictable, almost comically so, but that’s not what these films are about. I’m trying to watch myself here and not repeat word for word what I said about Spare Parts but the reasons for that are obvious, both are films that, on the surface, seem unremarkable at best but, when watched, remind you of exactly why these films have been around for so long. You see, with these underdog movies it’s not the plot that matters you simply substitute different sports or competitions and a different underprivileged group of kids, have them win at the end preferably with a moral, add a coach/mentor/adult that learns something along the way and Viola! No, It’s all about the performances and the way in which that basic plot is presented. Think about the difference between a regular $20 a plate restaurant and a gourmet $80 a plate restaurant. Same steak, just present it differently and you have a whole new experience. Director Niki Caro gets that. Caro chooses to put equal, if not more, importance on the White family’s adjustment to life in McFarland and the way they grow to understand and become a part of the community. Not to worry, the sports angle is not glossed over at all, and all of the bonding moments you’ve come to know and love are there and in full force. That, I think, is what sets this film apart. She creates, or being a true story I suppose re-creates, a world that you begin to connect with on all levels and not just with the kids and their coach. That brings us to the second part of that important mix for these type of films to work, performances. Kevin Costner, who seems born to play emotional mentor roles, is Kevin Costner…that is to say he is at his best, functioning as the support beam for the rest of the cast…a cast, mind you, that is mostly made up of newcomers. I don’t mean this to take away from the supporting cast, especially Carlos Pratts, as they are wonderful as well. They symbiotic relationship between White and his team only looks so good because of the give and take between Costner and the team of actors.Two for two in feel good family films this year? Could it be? Yes, it could and is. I didn’t even mention yet that this is a Disney film so take everything I’ve previously said and sprinkle some of that Disney magic on top. I’m not sure it needs to be said at this point but just to make sure you fully get the point, should you be feeling a little down or need some of that faith in humanity restored look no further than McFarland USA this weekend.
4 out of 5 Guttenbergs
