KICKING & SCREAMING A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
KICKING & SCREAMING, a film that puts the slap back in slapstick, is part silly kids comedy and part Will Farrell comedy routine. Farrell stars as Phil Weston, a wimpy vitamin store owner who has lived his life in the shadow of his father, Buck (Robert Duvall), the prosperous owner of a sporting goods chain. In his TV ads, Buck's employees scream, "He's got balls!"
Having kids and wives of the same age, Phil and Buck end up as rival coaches for their 10-year-old sons' soccer teams. Buck is a heartless competitor while Phil encourages his BAD NEWS BEARS team to just have fun. But with the help of Mike Ditka, played by Mike Ditka, as an assistant coach and with a newfound caffeine addiction, Phil discovers the path to victory. Oh yes, he is also helped by a couple of fresh-off-the-boat Italian boys who really know how to play the game.
Typical of the film's jokes is one of Phil completely losing it when the line at his local coffee place isn't moving fast enough. Another has him screaming "loser!" to the players on the opposite team after the game. The movie has some laughs while you are watching it, but it's not a film that wears very well. The more you think about it; the stupider it becomes.
KICKING & SCREAMING runs a little long even at just 1:35. It is rated PG for "thematic elements, language and some crude humor" and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, May 13, 2005. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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