The Longshots, directed by Fred Durst, succeeds as a somewhat predictable, but far from formulaic, family film. It works because of the uplifting performances of its two stars, Keke Palmer and Ice Cube.
They both deliver the goods; Palmer as Jasmine Plummer, the first female quarterback to play in the Pop Warner football championship, and Ice Cube as her uncle/coach, Curtis Plummer. The script plays it safe but the performances by its two stars are enough to make The Longshots a touchdown.
Jasmine is an outcast at school until her uncle comes along and introduces her to football, a game that’s in the Plummer’s genes. Jasmine aspires to be a model like her idol, Tyra Banks, and wants no part of football…at first; Curtis teaches her the basics of being a quarterback by setting up targets of her idols pictures to throw the football at. Needless to say, she doesn’t miss a throw. The team, which is struggling, finds its savior in the form of a female quarterback.
Durst does a good job of capturing the spirit of a small, down on its luck, community willing to rally behind its (Pop Warner) Super Bowl bound, Minden Browns, and their star quarterback and earnest new coach. No matter how you look at it, The Longshots is a winner.
Read Also
Tweet
