Kicking and Screaming

Plot

Phil has always lived to please his ultra-competitive sport loving father Buck, but nothing he has done has made him proud. Buck, who has another son the same age as Phil’s son – and coaches them both in a soccer team called the Gladiators, ‘trades’ Phil’s son to the worst team in the league – the Tigers.

Infuriated, Phil decides to become the coach of The Tigers and Buck’s neighbour and mortal enemy Mike Ditka (the Superbowl champion coach) joins him as Assistant Coach, to get the Tigers to the final… but will Phil take things too far?

Cast/Characters

Will Ferrell does his usual thing here, and while at times he almost feels like he is the straight man at times in the film – other times it feels like you’re watching a Mr Bean/vaudeville comedy.

Robert Duval does what he can with a script that is not good enough for him. He plays his part soundly – and you never have much positive feelings about him and wonder why a 40-year-old man who has been shunned his whole life wants his love?

Kate Walsh plays Ferrell’s wife Barb, in what is clearly a wasted role. This was around the time she started her Grey’s era of her career – and felt she was underused completely.

The star of the movie goes to Mike Ditka – who plays a parodied version of himself and he is the only one who made me laugh throughout the film. His Paul/Phil faux pas – as well as his wife (who’s smoking?) is genuinely funny.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

Swing and a miss when it comes to blending ‘heart’ with ‘comedy’

It kept shoving it down our throats that Buck is a horrible parent and even grandparent (he bench warms his own grandchild in his team, then trades him)… not to mention that ball game in the second act.

There are some overly silly ‘comedy’ moments; Phil throws a dart at Buck’s fish tank, Phil hits his steering wheel so hard it pops the airbag into his face.

Even at 95m this was a struggle to get through, and several moments should have been cut from the final product, Phil’s coffee addiction (we’re led to believe he’s never tried it before), the howling at the moon scene and that groan inducing ball game with Phil and Buck (we get it… he’s a horrible father).

I didn’t much care for the ‘Hollywood’ ending – and the 3rd act ‘Phil realises his mistake’ happens too late in the film

Overall

I went in expecting something… different. While I’ve enjoyed Ferrell’s comedy in the past, this was just not up to par – or his talent.

A waste of Duvall and Walsh too. I wouldn’t recommend this.

2/5