A stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach is forced to train a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service.
Woody Harrelson
Marcus
Kaitlin Olson
Alex
Cheech Marin
Julio
Matt Cook
Sonny
Ernie Hudson
Coach Phil Peretti
Madison Tevlin
Cosentino
Joshua Felder
Darius
Kevin Iannucci
Johnny
Ashton Gunning
Cody
Matthew Von Der Ahe
Craig
James Day Keith
Benny
Alex Hintz
Arthur
Casey Metcalfe
Marlon
Bradley Edens
Showtime
Alicia Johnston
Coach Maya
Tom Sinclair
Blair
Mike Smith
Attorney McGurk
Barbara Pollard
Dot
Alexandra Castillo
Judge Mary Menendez
Jean-Jacques Javier
Bartender
Scott Van Pelt
Self
Jalen Rose
Self
Seán Cullen
Frank O'Connolly
Jacob Blair
Blake Lassiter
Ryan DeLong
Headband
Cory Wojcik
Bus Driver
Lauren Cochrane
Mother on Bus
Eddy Norman
Child on Bus
Stephanie Sy
Reporter
Clint Allen
Shakespeare Actor
Heath Vermette
Factory Supervisor
Aaron Hughes
Opposing Coach
Champ Pederson
Peter the 'Ringer'
Joanne Zahaiko
The Beasts Coach
Lois Brothers
Referee
Ryder Dueck
Spectator (uncredited)
Vance Halldorson
Cheering Spectator (uncredited)
Director
Bobby Farrelly
Original Concept, Original Film Writer
David Marqués
Original Film Writer
Javier Fesser
Screenplay
Mark Rizzo
March 23, 2023
7
Have you seen "The Shiny Shrimps" (2019)? Well this reminded me very much of that comedy effort as Woody Harrelson portrays the disgraced basketball coach "Marcus". After one altercation too many on the court, he is ordered by a judge to do some community service coaching a group of young children with learning difficulties. Right from the start, he hates the idea. They have precious little team skills, hand-eye co-ordination, and the only one who is any way competent refuses to have anything to do with him. Luckily, "Johnny" (Kevin Iannucci) has a big sister "Alex" (Kaitlin Olson) who manages to get the coach to commit and focus more on the team - and, well you can easily guess the rest. This is one of those life-affirming films that is well written with loads of characters and dry - frequently pretty black - humour. The thing has an inevitability to it, but like the "Shrimps" it's about inclusion. It's about making sure everyone gets a chance to take part, to enjoy, to thrive - teamwork, family (meatloaf - yuk!) and a genuine sense of celebration feature increasingly and effectively. It isn't a film you will remember for long, it's entirely formulaic - but Harrelson and Iannucci are on good form and I did enjoy it.