McFarland, USA (2015)

Jim White moves his family after losing his last job as a football coach. He sees that some of the students are worth starting a cross-country team and turns seven students with no hope into one of the best cross-country teams.

Jess' Review

Today we watched McFarland USA, our first sports drama, starring Kevin Costner. The film sees Costner as a struggling PE teacher who moves to McFarland, ultimately finding himself as coach for an unlikely cross-country running team. Another true story. I’ve been so used to complaining about remakes and sequels in cinema that maybe the ‘true story’ trope had completely fallen under my radar. Or maybe Sam and I just have some weird affinity for them. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing though - the majority have been decent.

McFarland USA is a nice film. Nice in the sense that it evokes a warm, fuzzy feeling in your chest. Maybe that’s a little corny of me to say. But let me iterate, this is a Disney film. There’s no way it wasn’t going to be a bit corny - though surprisingly less so than I’d anticipated. Dare I say, it actually seemed very genuine in its tone.

Rundown McFarland is captured with sensitivity and a certain rawness. But it’s the inhabitants that truly bring the town to life. There are several scenes where the energy is so palpable that you might as well be there trying to keep down a seventh enchilada alongside them. Whilst this is a sports film at its core, I found director Niki Caro really put emphasis on themes of loyalty and family. It was endearing. And really worked well as the foundation and heart of the film.

Now, despite its feel-good factor and vibrant cast, I do have some gripes. Let’s start with the obvious. It is predictable. There aren’t any big shocks or twists or any swerve of trajectory. This is a simple watch. There’s a team of underdogs, a grumpy coach who sees their potential and boom, where do you think we end up? Sports movies aren’t generally my go-to but I’ve certainly seen this formula before.

The acting was decent all-around, though I constantly found myself confused by the boys’ ages. No offence to Carlos Pratts - his performance was great. But my god did he look old. I cracked up on more than one occasion as it dawned on me that this actor (who we later discovered was 28 at the time of filming!) just looked remarkably out of place. It was distracting for me. (Though maybe I’m just being cruel. Sorry, sir.)

McFarland USA, like I said previously, is nice. It’s an inspiring story with wonderfully emotive characters that you can connect to. (Go Danny!) It made me smile, it kept my attention and took me on a journey. It’s a special story, most definitely - but perhaps not a particularly special film.

6/10

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Sam's Review

The Disney castle comes onto screen, and as the star shoots over it, I ponder if we've made a mistake. It's not that they're monopolising the industry that puts me off, though that's part of it. I simply don't want a jolly, vapid version of a story.

My trepidation continues to rise. This is not off to a great start. They're setting the foundation for a lot of cliches.

The White family (ironic...) seem put out by the fact that they're in a 'scary' Latin American neighbourhood. Though they have a reasonably nice home, that they have barely looked at, already they're upset. Crazy, as they should be grateful. Don't worry though, I have a feeling we'll all learn a lesson by the end of the film.

With the feel of a made-for-TV film, McFarland, USA seems trite. It's shot in a way that I can only describe as shiny, not that visually it's vibrant, though there are some vivid pastel visuals of the town. It's corny. Not all of it. Not even most of it. But enough that it would seem out-of-place in a cinema.

The story of the runners is compelling. Their rich culture, their environment, their work. These young men are faced with a harder life than most, and yet have the heart to face it head on. And I applaud the film's attempt to reveal their lifestyles. Yet, even this is done in a 'shiny' way, that sees their lives, but perhaps does not understand them. We touch on the hardships, but fail to delve into them.

Which is a shame, as it lowers the stakes. Briefly it is touched upon that the runners, if they become good enough, have a chance to go to college, giving them a chance at a better life. But since it's barely mentioned again, and they smile and joke through their hardships, it doesn't impact as it should. They're running for their lives, and yet we never reach that intensity. Still, come race time, I'm cheering for McFarland.

The film does have its redeeming qualities. The residents of McFarland are authentic and warm, and I find myself instantly connecting to them. Their loyalty to each other is genuine and touching. And I appreciate Coach White apologising for his racism. Too often film-makers prefer to let their character's actions wallpaper over the mistakes they made in the beginning.

It's a good story, with great characters, that's told blandly. But, if you don't clap for Danny, you don't have a heart. Go Cougars!

6/10