The Legend of Bagger Vance is a nice, wistful little period drama. The photography is impressive, splendid, eye-filling and various other applicable synonyms for beautiful. The grassy green Savannah course looks wonderfully natural. But while the movie is pretty to look at, Redford fails to evoke any genuine magic or heart-rending emotions from the subject matter. Redford expressed a similar infatuation with nature and landscape-derived spirituality in The Horse Whisperer with a greater amount of success.
More frustration is deeply-rooted in the fact that the characters lack dimension.
Damon is decent but wholeheartedly fails to personify Junuh s spiritual attachment to the game of golf. Theron, who seems to be everywhere nowadays, is typically solid as she claws through her thick southern accent. Unfortunately, the romance between Adele and Junuh fizzles like a bad batch of pop rocks. There is nothing worthwhile about it. Which brings us to Will Smith, who delivers a restrained, likable performance as the caddy with all the right knowledgeable advice.