Very middle of the road.

Rating: 5/10 (3 November 2000)

Without giving too much away, "The Legend of Bagger Vance" isn't really so much about the caddy played by comedian Will Smith. The film, which is a Robert Redford flick -- meaning go see it knowing he's going to tell you the whole story from start to finish -- is more about a boy who watches a golfer played by Matt Damon who's caddy is Bagger Vance, who's played by comedian Will Smith.
Have I mentioned that Will Smith is a comedian?
Ah, okay. Well, that's precisely my point, faithful readers. While I completely enjoyed Smith's laid back and confident approach to a character I've read was made for Morgan Freeman, I know for a fact that the part was altered, and in my opinion, made less effective because Will Smith was signed.
Oppositely, I don't like Matt Damon. I never have admired his "I'm-a-movie-star" kind of glitz he brings to every role. And while nothing's changed here, when he takes his role in this otherwise hokey fantasy about golf, I can't help but want to latch onto his character as if he was the only real element in the film. After all, Savannah, in all of it's old-classic wonder, seems so real and yet provides a quaint unreal setting for the piece. Viewers needed Damon to be there for them, and he comes through quite nicely.
So all that is really left to come together for "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is it's moving story about a golfer who's "lost his swing" who's feeling a little "in the bunker" and can't quite make "par for the course" on life. (And every other metaphor Bagger Vance uses in his trance inducing monologues.) If there wasn't so much love stuff, I'd say the film would have coasted into a solid B, but alas the movie decides it doesn't want to play it solo (like the game of golf) and introduces way too often Damon's love interest played by Charliez Theorn ("Men of Honor") who seems too rigid anyway to allow herself to be her character.
I liked "The Legend of Bagger Vance" but would have only watched it if I caught it on a lazy Saturday afternoon and had nothing else to do. Kind of like when I'd probably watch golf.
Legend of Bagger Vance Grade C