MCFARLAND, USA (PG)
Released by Walt Disney Pictures
Review by Adam Mast
Anyone else out there a sucker for a feel-good underdog sports movie? If so, you’ll most likely enjoy Disney’s MCFARLAND, USA starring Kevin Costner. This rousing charmer is in the grand tradition of films like HOOSIERS, MIRACLE, MILLION DOLLAR ARM, and COOL RUNNINGS.
Based on a true story, MCFARLAND, USA stars Costner as Jim White, a high school football coach looking for a fresh start after a series of unfortunate mistakes. He certainly gets that new start after rerouting his family to the tiny farming community of McFarland, where he takes on a position as a coach/teacher at the local high school. Adjusting to a new life in a predominantly Hispanic community during the mid 80’s proves to be difficult for the White family, but Jim rises to the occasion, and he does so by assembling a cross country running team comprised of a handful of athletically gifted students at McFarland High.
Some viewers will argue that this film focuses too much on a white coach and his white family rather than focusing on the spirited, youthful Hispanic runners White coaches to greatness, but to suggest that would be to miss the point of this sweet, gentle, heartwarming movie. In its own way, MCFARLAND, USA does a terrific job breaking down stereotypes and if it didn’t use White and family as a focal point, it wouldn’t have been as effective. Look no further than a scene in which White high tales it out of a restaurant parking lot after he sees what he perceives to be a handful of gang bangers out to cause some trouble. Things aren’t always as they seem in McFarland. While some of these scenarios are dealt with in a bit of a schmaltzy, Hollywoodized fashion, I found the lack of negative stereotypes in this movie refreshing.
What’s more, MCFARLAND, USA does offer up balance. This isn’t just about the token white family dealing with culture shock in a Hispanic neighborhood. And in fact, the students who make up White’s cross country team–as well as their own families–are considerably more vital to this story. Carlos Pratts in particular serves as an anchor in this picture as Thomas Valles, a young man who is convinced that a world beyond McFarland doesn’t even exist. He has pretty much come to the conclusion that he’ll follow in his bitter father’s footsteps and remain a “picker” for the rest of his days. Not that there’s any shame in that profession, but Valles can’t help but feel he was meant to do something more with his life.
Ultimately, Valles and his teammates learn quite a bit from White throughout this movie, but what really sets this picture apart is that White learns even more from them. By the end of MCFARLAND, USA, White has a true admiration for his team’s work ethic and an even greater appreciation for their sense of family. He sees first hand the trials and tribulations these teens must rise above if they are going to be successful in life, but he also recognizes that all the success in the world means nothing if you’re not sharing it with the ones you love.
In one of the film’s strongest scenes, White decides to join his team as they spend an enormously hot day tending to the crops that serve as McFarland’s livelihood. It’s in this moment that this coach from a more privileged background, learns that these kids already understand the meaning of hard work.
MCFARLAND, USA does take a slightly dark turn in the second half, reminding us all that this is the real world and that bad things sometimes do happen, but then, the film reels things back in and suggests that such moments don’t necessarily have to define who you are nor do they have to dictate the decisions you might make in the future.
Costner is terrific in this picture. He’s understated and likable, and while his Jim White certainly has a competitive nature, he isn’t quite as abrasive or hard headed as, say, Gene Hackman’s stern Norman Dale or J.K. Simmons’ vicious Terence Fletcher. He’s much more even keel. Lovely Maria Bello appears as White’s wife and while I wish she was a little more front and center, she does serve as a much needed voice of reason. The key here though are the actors who make up the cross country team. Pratts, Ramiro Rodriguez, Johnny Ortiz, Rafael Martinez, Hector Duran, Michael Aguero and even Sergio Avelar’s rough around the edges Victor Puentes all bring individuality, sincerity, and warmth to this sweet natured movie.
When Team McFarland runs the climactic race at the end of MCFARLAND, USA, we’ve come to care so much about these boys, that we truly want to see them come out on top. Do they come out on top? Like I’m going to spoil the answer to that probing question in a review.
MCFARLAND, USA was directed by the great Niki Caro, the stellar film-making talent behind 2002’s majestic coming of age story, WHALE RIDER. Caro does a terrific job balancing the drama of these boys’ lives with the excitement and inspirational bravado that you would come to expect from a grand underdog sports movie. The end result is a formulaic, somewhat predictable but all together wonderful family oriented picture from the fine folks at Disney.
