McFarland USA

McFarland USA

Rating 6 out of 10

You really can't go wrong going to see a feel good movie like this.  Kevin Costner is looking good at sixty and making some decent movies.  This one is based on a true story.

Costner plays a fiery football coach back in the late 1980s who's no nonsense take no prisoners old school approach does not go over well with papered players.  When he gets fired again the only job he can get is as an assistant coach in an one horse hispanic town.  Doesn't take him long to come at odds with the head coach and again he is looking for something to keep him busy.  When he notices how fast the poor kids are running from place to place.  He starts a cross country team even though he knows nothing about it or has enough boys to field a team.  With a little training they begin to do amazingly well.

You can pretty much guess the rest of the story as this is a paint by the number movie.  The reason it doesn't rate higher on my scale.  Wife and kids hate the town and in a matter of weeks love it like they have never lived anywhere else.  There is the build up to the California State Championship.  No way these overworked boys can compete with the rich white kids.

This is an enjoyable harmless feel good film.  Would make a good rental or rainy day movie.