TIN CUP

Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy: Kevin Costner Dr. Molly Griswold: Rene Russo Romeo Posar: Cheech Marin David Simms: Don Johnson Doreen: Linda Hart Directed by Ron Shelton. Written by John Norville and Ron Shelton. Running time: 130 minutes. Rated R (for language and brief nudity).

The main character Tin Cup, Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner), informs his student, Molly Griswold (Rene Russo), and us there are two theories to how to hit a golf ball. One theory that has a Zen quality to it is, "It's gaining control of your life and letting go at the same time," and the other strategy is simply, "Grip it and rip it." As we watch the movie, it is quite obvious that "Tin Cup", the nickname for Roy, subscribes to the second statement. He is a simplistic man, right down to his emotions.

Once an aspiring professional golfer, Roy now works at an ugly and depressed golf driving range in Salome, Texas. The range is so pitiful that through the course of the whole movie, it has only one customer. I wonder how it stays in business? The golf range gets more armadillos than customers. The only regular at the range is Roy himself, as he passes the day practicing his swing. His friends, who also hangout at the range, spend the day making weird bets. One of them is betting on which bug will be electrocuted by the bug zapper first.

His life was better, as he was a golf champion at the University of Houston, but his career changed because of his stubborn ego. He would throw away a safe situation because of his need to showcase his talent like taking crazy shots on a dare or trying to beat the record. His decisions lead to many losses, where he could have easily won, if he had just played it safe. Now he lives in a Winnebago overlooking the desolate driving range, with his friend Romeo (Cheech Marin), who remembers Roy from his championship days at the university.

Roy seems content with his life, as he does not make any attempts to change it. Then enters Dr. Molly Griswold, a psychologist who wants to take golf lessons. We can tell she is serious and eager to learn when she arrives to the range with all the equipment and inventions associated with golf. During the scene, I wondered what were the purposes for half of the contraptions she had on? She even bought a golf watch. How that would help, I have no idea. At the first sight of her, Roy seems happy and upbeat. I thought that the presence of a customer was the cause of his jubilation, but its not, as Roy has fallen in love with her. He tries to flirt with her, but to no avail, as she brushes off each advance. He later finds out that she is learning to take golf because of her new boyfriend, who is a professional golfer. Worse, Roy finds out that her boyfriend is David Simms (Don Johnson), Roy's old rival and nemesis back in his college days. Roy informs Molly of her boyfriend's real personality ("He hates women, children and dogs."), but it doesn't work.

Roy then decides to steal Molly away from David and enters the U.S. Open, which ends as a showdown between himself and David. The outcome is surprising as I expected something else to happen, but nevertheless it ends with hope and most importantly, with love for Roy.

The movie, Tin Cup, is a good formula sports comedy, which Ron Shelton is great at writing. Shelton, a minor league baseball player at onetime, also teamed up with Costner in Bull Durham, which he wrote and directed. His credits also include writing White Men Can't Jump and Cobb. His knowledge of sports and the world that surrounds it i.e. the media, broadcasters, girlfriends, help make his movies seem more believable and fun. For instance, the Driver is referred as the "Big Dog" and hitting the ball is "Let the Big Dog Eat." Some of the best moments in the movie, is the playfulness that is involved with competitive competition. One of the scenes involves Roy challenging a man to one round of golf, with Roy using only household items like a baseball bat, a shovel and a hoe, instead of golf clubs.

Throughout the whole film, Costner looks disheveled, worn, and in much need of a shave and a shower. As Roy tries desperately to get her attention, Molly stays true to David, but has some sympathy for Roy and decides to help him. She agrees to cure his internal problems inside his head. "You don't have inner demons," Molly warns, "What you have is inner crapola." The movie also shows Molly's vulnerability, as she needs guidance with her romantic life. Of course, as the movie goes on she finds comfort in Roy and becomes his friend.

One of the movie's strong points is its supporting characters. Like Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh from Bull Durham, Tin Cup is filled with colorful characters that are not only used as plot points. Don Johnson plays the part of the villain perfectly. He's friendly, calm and inviting when he needs to be and a pompous jerk the rest of the time. He is a sly villain with the perfect smile to throw you off guard. Cheech Marin is a good sidekick, as he faithfully sticks with Roy through the hard times. He looks as worn and beaten as Costner in the movie. His knowledge of golf is the same as "Tin Cup," which is why Roy chooses him as his caddie. And there is Linda Hart, who plays Doreen, Roy's ex-wife. Her best moments are in the strip club that she owns, as she complains to one of her employees about her attire.

Unfortunately, the movie didn't answer some of the questions that I had. How did Romeo and Roy meet? What does his group of friends do for a living? Regardless, Tin Cup is a good movie overall, as it takes the longest and lethargic game and makes it exciting. And yes, you will find out how Roy got the name "Tin Cup." Grade: B

MAIN MENU
MOVIES A-F
MOVIES G-M
MOVIES N-T
MOVIES U-Z