The Big Green (1995)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Holly Goldberg Sloan

Writer (WGA):

Holly Goldberg Sloan (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sport

Tagline:

The biggest kick of the year!

Plot:

Another Disney underdog sports team of misfit kids (soccer this time) learns to play a new sport and become champions...

Plot Keywords:

Sports Team | Soccer | Teamwork | Color In Title | Twins

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 18

9:00 AM

HALMRK

Cast

Steve Guttenberg	...	Sheriff Tom Palmer
Olivia d'Abo	...	Miss Anna Mongomery
Jay O. Sanders	...	Coach Jay Huffer
John Terry	...	Edwin V. Douglas
Chauncey Leopardi	...	Evan Schiff
Patrick Renna	...	Larry Musgrove
Billy L. Sullivan	...	Jeffrey Luttrell
Yareli Arizmendi	...	Marbelly Morales
Bug Hall	...	Newt Shaw
Jessica Robertson	...	Kate Douglas (as Jessie Robertson)
Anthony Esquivel	...	Juan Morales
Jordan Brower	...	Nick Anderssen
Hayley Kolb	...	Sophia Convertino
Haley Miller	...	Polly Neilson
Ashley Welch	...	Lou Gates

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/6 | UK:U (video premiere) | USA:PG (certificate #33879) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Caravan Pictures

Trivia:

Most of the child actors did not know how to play soccer. In fact, Anthony Esquivel was the only one who knew how to play at the time of filming.

Goofs:

Factual errors: On a penalty kick, the shooter does not signal to the referee when he is ready to kick.

Quotes:

Kate Douglas: You didn't even say goodbye.
Juan Morales: Don't be mad. I wanted to.
Kate Douglas: Well, next time you leave, say goodbye.
Juan Morales: Next time I leave, I'll just take you with me.

Soundtrack:

AS LONG AS WE CAN WALK

Not an original moment in the whole movie.

This is one of the most unoriginal, cliche-ridden movies I have ever seen. Even if you didn't like this film's antecedents, 'The Bad News Bears' and 'The Mighty Ducks,' they are bound to have done a better job than this one. From the moment the new teacher greets her class and they tell her, "Don't bother with us, we're all losers," you can see everything that's coming twenty miles away for the rest of the film.

All the usual suspects are here. Besides the spunky teacher, we have a group of what are supposed to be endearingly bratty kids (they're brats, yes, but no so endearing), a slow-witted small town sheriff that they love to torment, an arrogant head coach of the winning rival team, etc., ad nauseum. Only Olivia d'Abo as the new teacher displays any likabilty. I never cared much for Steve Guttenberg before and his performance as the sheriff doesn't change things. Jay O. Sanders is a capable actor but his character, the rival coach, leaves him nothing to work with. Let's hope that writer/director Holly Goldberg Sloan comes up with something better next time out.