Kicking And Screaming

Set (but not filmed) in the Chicago suburbs, Ferrell plays Phil Weston, a mild-mannered salesman

Review by Russ Breimeier, Courtesy of Christianity Today Movies

The clout of SNL alum Will Ferrell as a box office draw has only grown since 2003's family friendly Elf, followed by the PG-13 rated Anchorman in 2004. So despite the title, you won't have to drag kids (or adults) to Kicking & Screaming.

It also helps that the film subject is one of the most popular sports with children today. Yet despite coining the soccer mom demographic more than a decade ago, it's taken this long to create a definitive movie focused on the enormous popularity of youth soccer. And despite regular news stories about overzealous parents who become more emotionally invested in the game than their offspring, it's still a timely premise.

Set (but not filmed) in the Chicago suburbs, Ferrell plays Phil Weston, a mild-mannered vitamin salesman with his own health store. Despite a loving family and a successful business, we learn that he's never lived up to the expectations of his fanatically competitive father Buck (Robert Duvall), the owner of a popular sporting goods store and coach of the Gladiators, the local champion soccer team.

Because Buck is so focused on his team's success, Phil's 10-year-old son Sam (Dylan McLaughlin), a member of his grandpa's team, spends more time warming the bench than he does running on the field. In an underutilized gag, Buck's star player is his own boy Bucky (Josh Hutcherson), the product of his second marriageÑand thus Phil's 10-year-old stepbrother. When Phil implores for his father to give Sam more game time, he learns that Buck has already transferred his grandson to the Tigers ("You traded my son?" "Well, I didn't actually get anything for him ...").

Unfortunately, the Tigers are in last place, due to questionable talent and a coach so dispassionate, he ditches the team after the first game of the season. Determined to make his son happy, Phil volunteers to coach the Tigers, which of course ends up playing the Gladiators in his first game. It isn't long before the athletically challenged father learns that he's in over his head, but how to shape up the team in short time?

Simple. Mike Ditka-former coach of the Chicago Bears-happens to be Buck's next-door neighbor and "mortal enemy"-developments like this only occur in comedies. The two have a viscous rivalry, so the legendary Ditka is all too happy to serve as Phil's assistant and whip the kids into shape. Additionally, he helps recruit two Italian soccer prodigies from the neighborhood who immediately become the Tigers' primary game plan: "Pass it to the Italians."

Soon the Tigers are winning games, but at what cost? And as Phil gains a taste for competitive sports (not to mention caffeine), he begins to change as well. After a heated match of tetherball, father and son make a serious wager concerning their two teams, taking their competitive relationship to overenthusiastic levels.

Granted, originality is not one of the film's stronger suits. Like so many other retreads of The Bad News Bears or The Mighty Ducks, Kicking & Screaming relies on the usual cliche: the training montages, the championship match, the unbelievable game-winning shot. It's also got a few of those "Gimme a break" moments, like the kid who suddenly plays better when the coach realizes he just needs a pair of glasses.

But the big game in Kicking & Screaming is only part of the story. The familial relationships and themes of inspiring confidence are more central to the story. They add a new dimension to the final game, thus making it somewhat more unpredictable. You don't want either Weston to win because it reinforces their bad behavior-something else has to give before we can root for one of them.

For better or worse, good comedy is rooted in reality. We've all experienced overzealous parents firsthand, or else heard horror stories about the lengths they'll go to in order to live vicariously through their children. This isn't just a movie about lovable losers trying to prove themselves. It's also about the difference between winning at all costs and having fun. And it deals with parental expectations and reconciliation, both between Phil and Sam as well as Buck and Phil.

Make no mistake, though. Ferrell is the primary draw, and it turns out to be a great (if not unremarkable) role for him. The idea was to have him in a movie that allows him to interact with kids. He's good with them, and in fact became a first-time father during the filming. Ferrell is good at playing lovable and crazy, and he gets to play both in Kicking & Screaming-think Steve Martin's humorous parental tone (Parenthood, Cheaper by the Dozen) evolving into Jim Carrey's unleashed-though-grounded mania (Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty). In a film highlight, he also engages in some physical comedy, failing at varying sports in college during an opening flashback sequence.

It's fun to see the nice guy gradually turn his repressed rage loose. Although Phil is such a nice family man at the start, it actually becomes a little unnerving to see him go over the top, becoming his father and pushing the kids too far. But that's the point, right?

Ferrell still needs other good actors to play off of, and Duvall distinguishes himself in his first true comedic role since M*A*S*H* in 1970, with the possible exception of 2003's Secondhand Lions. It's no surprise that this excellent actor pulls it off, since we've seen hints of humor in his previous roles. He makes a convincing over-competitive fatherÑessentially the villain and Phil's cause of grief in the movieÑyet he still manages to keep his character lovable.

The greater revelation is Ditka, who says he merely had to play himself. But he does more than give a cliche guest performance. He makes a fine comedic foil, playing the straight man or the crazy man against Ferrell as necessary with fun and energy. An early scene showing him arguing with his wife over smoking a cigar shows that he'd even make a good Mr. Wilson in Dennis the Menace. There's just something immensely satisfying in watching "Da Coach" inspire greatness by yelling at the undisciplined kids as if they're professional football players.

Speaking of, many of these kids show dimension, developed just enough for us to remember and enjoy their personalities. Even though most of them are little more than caricatures, the screenwriters (responsible for both Santa Clause films) smartly give them just enough for us to care, keeping the focus on Ferrell and the central characters. The standout is Byong Sun (mispronounced in the movie as Beyonce, played by Elliot Cho and sure to be the next breakout cute kid since Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire). Plus, there are scenes where the teammates seem to bond together as real children would. The two Italian boys patiently try to teach some soccer moves to the others, while the rest help them with their English. No one is too overly bratty or ridiculous-they ring true.

Not to overanalyze such a simple comedy. Except for some ball jokes that will sail over the heads of young children (while causing dads to snicker), this is the rare live action comedy that's appropriate for the whole family and still funny. Kicking & Screaming succeeds because it understands its target audience, refraining from playing it too cute or crude. Though predictable, it's well executed, with the actors and filmmakers coordinating like a championship team ... and having fun in the process.