OK, but some serious issues

Rating: 5/10 (13 January 2007)

Good story - could have developed more around characters. The sexual activities portrayed with the teenagers really detracted from a film, and further sent a statement with viewers that this was OK activity. Not enough was developed about the history or legacy of the school and why should the viewer care about the school in the first place. Having lived in El Paso for 7 years which is a Texas stones throw from Odessa - I could understand the boredom and desolation. A lot of the film centered around Boobie Miles yet the anti-climax was grossly undeveloped and left the viewers really wondering what happened to him and the other players after the final game and before graduation. Another example is the player with the sick mother. A lot of the film explains his concern for leaving her to join the world, yet the viewer is let down when nothing is done to explain what happens in the future. This was supposed to be a football and real-life reality movie yet too much was focused on football and not enough on the life. It was a cheap American Graffiti style ending. Overall a good film, but not great.