PLOT: A down-and-out former coach (Woody Harrelson) slapped with a DUI is sentenced to coach a group of intellectually disabled basketball players.
REVIEW: Champions marks Bobby Farrelly’s first solo outing as a director and his first theatrical feature since 2014’s Dumb and Dumber To. Like his brother Peter, in his solo debut, Bobby’s opted to branch out beyond the madcap vein the duo was known for in their heyday, directing a big-hearted comedy-drama that entertains from start to finish.
It helps that Farrelly’s put together a great cast, led by his former Kingpin leading man Woody Harrelson. The actor has always been able to walk a fine line between comedy and drama, and he’s ideally cast in this remake of the 2018 Spanish film of the same name. His character isn’t unlike the one he played in Kingpin, with him being shown to have been a gifted coach in his younger years, only to let ego and alcoholism make him go to seed as an older man. He recaptures his mojo through the pure joy in the game he recognizes in his crew of players.
As far as casting intellectually disabled actors go, the Farrellys have always been ahead of the curb in this aspect. They obviously took some of the criticism levied at the mentally disabled character in There’s Something About Mary to heart (although I still laugh at the line “have you seen my baseball”). Ever since Shallow Hal, they’ve cast a diverse array of intellectually and physically challenged actors, and Bobby has assembled a winning cast here. Farrelly has fun with them, but the jokes are never at their expense. Yet, he’s also not precious about their casting, allowing them to swear and have a whale of a time acting opposite Harrelson, whose joy when he acts alongside them can’t be faked.
The disabilities suffered by the crew of players run the gamut, with a few having Down Syndrome, others being autistic and one, the most talented player, recovering from a significant brain injury. The disabilities never define them as characters, and the film has an uplifting message that’s never heavy-handed.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson also has a great part as the overprotective older sister of one of the players, who starts up a sex-based relationship with Harrelson. The way the two gradually end up moving into a more serious relationship is well-conveyed, with the two having natural chemistry. Both have their thornier aspects, and it’s a mature love story that works. Olson shines here and shows a different side than she does on the great It’s Always Sunny. Ernie Hudson also has an excellent role as a character that starts as Harrelson’s rival but is won over when it occurs to him that the man is changing. In that way, the film has a nice message that runs a bit contrary to the current state of things, where people can learn from their mistakes and become better people, as happens with Harrelson throughout the film.
In the end, Champions will be viewed as corny by some, but those who actually give it a chance might be charmed by the fact that it tells a sweet story without being overly sentimental. It’s a nice family flick (with a bit of edge) that’s worth checking out.