Too much fluff & no movie

Rating: 2/10 (10 July 2002)

I do appreciate a good sports movie...but to me, this wasn't a sports flick. It was just mostly a character study. One was on Al Pacino, who played the football coach who basically lived his everyday life on football. There was Jaime Foxx's character, who as the upcoming rookie sensation gets a big ego being the new phenomenom, then returns to reality. Then, there is the aging starter, played by Dennis Quaid, who doesn't know if he can cut it anymore but who's coldhearted wife feels differently. And finally the ruthless owner played by Cameron Diaz, who gives a strong performance. The movie is an hour plus too long, & strays away from football too long & into their personal lives too much. This is Oliver Stone's problem with all of his movies. If you want an actual good football movie, go rent 'The Longest Yard'.