Predictable, Brash, Unrealishtic, and downright overrated!!!

Rating: 3/10 (14 April 2006)

This film is a bastardization of black/American history. Now, lets start from the beginning, another film about interracial, or prejudicial/bigotry issues between players on a team (played out to death in modern American movies). I can think of countless examples; Coach Carter, School Ties, Radio, Rudy, Varsity Blues, The Program, and...yes, the list of mediocrity continues, but I'll cut it short! You see, I'm not really into sports, but that isn't why I dislike this film so strongly. My reason is that the whole racial issues aspect is a little out-played/out-dated, the acting-lazy, and the film as a whole, rather corny and pretentious, with a lingering air of belligerence and predictability. The little girl (Sheryl) played by Hayden Panettiere as Coach Bill's outspoken daughter was absolutely unrealistic and obnoxious. She was loud, boyish, and downright rude at times. Her father deserved a slap in the face for raising such brash, insensitive little child. She reminded me of a lesbian version of Rhoda from the Bad Seed (1956). The lead character Coach Herman (Denzel Washigton) had no character-development and was at times overly dramatic, rash, and had an exaggerated confidence that destroyed the intended character. I also found the film to be very mediocre, and if that wasn't bad enough, sexist as well. Yes, I know, the film is about men on a football team, but the women characters that were present (rare), like the wives and girl friends, were plain, waif-like and generic. They mostly had one-liner dialog and scenes that lasted literally seconds. So if you appreciate not-so-predictable, fresh and more captivating entertainment and history told as it is without the commercial addition of crude jokes and bad characters, skip this film. Overall, an interesting premise, but horribly executed and poorly acted/directed.