Cinematic equivalence to vomit

Rating: Null/10 (21 February 2001)

Let me just point out the arrangement of roles for the film: A white agent, a black football player. I have to agree with some friend's assessments that this is a deplorable stereotype, however it's nowhere near explanatory in providing the details on why this film reeks.
I thought the morality tale was poorly conceived, and it didn't look like Cruise's character changed much towards the end. (He was supposed to "find his scruples", but I didn't see much in the fellow except that he was less constipated than before.) The romance has faux-sugar sweet, and I can't see it appealing to anyone except romance fanatics (but according to the story, that's not what the film was made for.)
It would have been interesting, if, the film was instead about a coach (not an agent) who physically and mentally assaults his players to the point that he's fined, and perhaps sentenced to jail. When he leaves jail, he finds the sport he stands up for is nothing more than barbaric and starts out by denouncing the commercialism mounted behind it. That would make the film increasingly more interesting, especially due to the fact that people who don't watch sports may find this moving and fascinating. I'm sure the idea will eventually be used.
But this is a poor movie. Thumbs down.