by: Josh Marks
Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka in a movie about a kids’ soccer team?
That is reason enough to see “Kicking & Screaming,” the new Will Ferrell
vehicle in theaters over Memorial Day weekend.
Ditka is surprisingly good playing himself and Ferrell delivers another
hilarious performance playing Phil Weston, a soccer dad who takes on the
coaching duties of his son’s team. Phil’s father Buck (Robert Duvall) tries to
instill his competitive nature into his son but sees him as a disappointment;
Buck owns a sports store and Phil is a vitamin salesman. Buck is a little
league soccer coach with the best team in the league and both Phil and Buck
have 10-year old sons on different teams (Yes, Phil has a 10-year old half
brother the same age as his own son). Phil finally decides to stand up to his
father by coaching against him. He solicits the help of their next-door
neighbor and leaf-blowing enemy of Buck – Mike Ditka.
The training montage of Ferrell and Ditka whipping the kids into shape is
hilarious. Between the laughs generated by Ferrell, Ditka and the soccer team,
there are messages about father-son relationships and the competitiveness of
youth sports. Ditka unintentionally gets Phil addicted to coffee and while
hyped up on the caffeine he morphs into his father by putting winning above
everything – even his son.
“Kicking & Screaming” is able to get these messages across without letting
them weigh down the movie. Will Ferrell’s presence alone on the screen is
enough to solicit laughs as he and the kids maintain the upbeat tone of the
film.
This movie is great for the family or anyone who wants to see Ferrell continue
his post-SNL successes as a big screen actor. Plus, once again, Mike Ditka is
in it. Oh, and I forgot about the Italians, who help the team when they are not
chopping meat at their father’s butcher shop.
This is not a great movie but it is able to slightly elevate itself above the
lighthearted family entertainment genre. Underneath all the antics and
silliness there is actually an affecting story about the Weston family and what
youth sports should really be all about.