What Is the Story About?
Sean Payton (Kevin James) is a suspended NFL coach. While on the break, he decides to take up the coaching work for his son’s high school team which is at the bottom of the barrel.
Did Sean bring a turnaround? What happens to his son’s team at the end of the season forms the movie’s basic plot. It is inspired by real-life events.
Performances?
Kevin James as coach Sean Payton is alright. More than the performance, it’s the goofy characterisation that’s the problem here. It adds to the uneven tone that is already a major issue with the narrative. The way things are portrayed one is never too sure when it’s meant to be taken seriously.
Analysis
Charles Kinnane and Daniel Kinnane direct the Home Team. It is a sports drama with a mix of comedy and coming of age elements.
The opening few minutes are fine, but as soon as the dialogues commence, there is an instant feeling that something is off. The same continues when a serious issue related to the coaching issue is blended with fun moments at the hotel. Both don’t sync and immediately throw us out of the narrative.
The same on and off a feeling regarding the connection with the narrative is present all the way until the end.
The father and son bonding over the sport, the coach dealing with personal and professional setbacks are all tackily handled, and written. Everything is rushed to the predictable end.
And nothing highlights the rushed making more than the actual sport at the centre of the narrative. The whole thing moves too quickly and over too soon to have any impact.
One can see that there is a potential for solid sports drama in their somewhere, but Home Team floundered it all. The main issue is the uneven tone which fails to balance the comedy and drama. It doesn’t work at all.
The climax fails to leave any impact. It is all over even before one can process anything or make out what has happened. The absolute lack of emotional investment shows the failure of the movie.
Overall, Home Team is a predictable sports drama involving an underdog plot. The poor mix of comedy and drama mars the whole narrative and makes it a terrible watch.
Other Artists?
Apart from Kevin James the rest of the actors have very poorly developed and written roles. The lack of clarity on paper shows in the performances, as well. Taylor Lautner is the biggest casualty here as he is relegated to the background despite having the scope to excel. The less said about the rest the better and it includes the likes of Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler, Tait Blum etc. None have a proper character arc and the conflicts are resolved even before they begin.
Music and Other Departments?
Rupert Gregson-Williams music is functional and serves the narrative alright. The cinematography by Seamus Tierney should have been better given the sports background. Multiple editors have worked on the movie. It shows in the uneven tone and rushed feeling throughout the narrative. The writing is okay in parts.
Highlights?
Few Comedy Moments
Drawbacks?
Rushed Narrative
Uneven Tone
Writing
Routine Premise
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, A Few Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Huge Reservations
Home Team Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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