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Kicking & Screaming (2005 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Kicking & Screaming' is a 2005 American sports comedy film directed by Jesse Dylan and written by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick. The film stars Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall as a father and son who exploit their own sons' soccer teams to try and beat the other. Mike Ditka, Kate Walsh and Josh Hutcherson also star. It was released on May 13, 2005, to mixed reviews and grossed $56 million worldwide.
Plot
Phil Weston is an average person who had to endure his father Buck Weston's over-competitiveness throughout his life; his upbringing has left permanent mental scars. Now middle-aged and married, with a young son named Sam, Phil runs a small vitamin store, while Buck operates a chain of sporting good stores.
Buck is coach of the Gladiators, the most successful little-league soccer team in the district. Sam is on the team, but to Phil's annoyance Buck keeps him on the bench, a humiliation he had also endured from him as a child. Buck eventually transfers Sam to the Tigers, the league's worst team.
At Sam's first game with the Tigers, their coach is absent. Rather than forfeit, Phil offers to coach them, a position he takes up permanently. However, despite his best efforts, the team does not improve. Desperate, Phil recruits Mike Ditka, Buck's neighbor and hated enemy, as assistant coach. Enticed by the opportunity to beat Buck, Ditka accepts the position. Despite grueling training, the team continues to lose.
Ditka introduces Phil to two exceptionally talented Italian brothers named Gian Piero and Massimo, sons of a local butcher. Phil convinces their uncle to let them play for the Tigers. They have an immediate impact, scoring repeatedly. The resulting winning streak makes the team a serious contender in the league. After finally winning a few games, Phil and Buck bet, if the Gladiators win the championship, Phil will sell his store and work for Buck. If the Tigers win Buck gives Phil his prized possession, 'The Pel Ball', the soccer ball struck by the famous player which Phil caught as a child and Buck took from him.
Meanwhile, Ditka also introduces Phil to coffee, which rapidly changes him from a mild-mannered caring father, to an obnoxious, egotistical, over-competitive coach, not that different from his father, abusing kids and parents alike. The team's mantra becomes "Get the ball to the Italians", which, though effective, demoralizes the team. In an ultimate over-competitive act, Phil benches Sam for the entire semi-final game; furthermore, just prior to the game Ditka resigned as assistant coach due to Phil's unsportsmanlike behavior towards him, the kids and the rival team.
In the finals the Tigers face off against the Gladiators. At half-time, the score is 21 for the Gladiators. In a heart-to-heart discussion with Sam, Phil realizes the error of his ways. He tells his team to do exactly the opposite of what he taught them. Although the Gladiators score one more goal after half-time, the Tigers do not give up hope. Phil gives the goalie a vision test with glasses from the crowd. From there, Ambrose scores one goalmaking the score 32. After another goal, the score is tied. The team rallies and produces a spectacular team performance to win 43, with Sam scoring the winning goal against his uncle Bucky (Buck's son from his second wife and Phil's younger half-brother, who was born on the exact day as Sam), using a move that he practiced when his dad benched him in the semi-finals.
Phil apologizes to Ditka for his earlier behavior, and Ditka accepts his apology. Honoring the bet, Buck tries to give Phil the ball, but Phil refuses. Making peace with his father, they merge their businesses, realizing there is more to life than winning.
The film ends with an adapted version of the "He's Got Balls" commercial originally produced by Buck. In it, the entire Tigers team appears, announcing the merger of Phil's vitamin shopPhil's Pillsand Buck's Sporting Goods Store. The team shouts, after the "He's got balls" line, "And vitamins." Mike Ditka is last seen watching and criticizing the commercial before the credits roll.
Cast
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 41% based on 139 reviews, and an average rating of 5.5/10. The web site's critical consensus reads, "The script is mediocre and fails to give Ferrell a proper comedic showcase." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, saying that it was "An entertaining family movie, and may serve a useful purpose if it inspires kids to overthrow their coaches and take over their own sports." Scott Foundas of 'Variety' called it "An immensely likable, funny comedy that finds a novel approach to that familiar combo of kids and sports."
David Palmer gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying that Ferrell and the film were much funnier than "a PG-rated kids film has any right being".
Box office
The film grossed $20.2 million in its opening weekend, finishing in 2nd place behind fellow newcomer 'Monster-in-Law' ($23.1 million).'Kicking and Screaming' earned $52.8 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $3.2 million in other territories for a worldwide total $56.1 million, against a production budget of $45 million. 'Kicking and Screaming' became the highest grossing soccer movie, beating 'Bend It Like Beckham' which grossed $32.5 million.
Awards and nominations
Golden Raspberry Awards* Will Ferrell nominated for Worst Actor (also for 'Bewitched')
Teen Choice Awards
* Choice Movie, Actor: Ferrell nominated for Comedy (also for 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy')
* Choice Movie, Hissy Fit: Ferrell
* 2005: Choice Movie Sleazebag: Ferrell
References
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