Ever since embodying the role of Crash Davis in Ron Shelton's Bull Durham Kevin Coster has been a force to be reckoned with in regard to films centered around any given sport. From 1996's Tin Cup to 2014's Draft Day, the highly respected actor has adapted to the worlds of baseball, football, golf and even boxing. Now, after over three decades, he has conquered the world of cross country in Niki Caro's highly impressive McFarland, USA.
Centered on Costner's Jim White, a California high school football coach with a history of a bad temper, Caro's McFarland, USA provides an honest and moving story that effectively interlaces the mental rigors of a cultural class with the inspirational story involving the power of self-confidence and worth. And though the film itself follows nearly every cliché in the book, I couldn't have cared less as I found myself fully engulfed in the journey, enjoying my time with White and his band of misfit cross country runners.
While the film is definitely strong on the power of community and acceptance, I found it most interesting how effective Caro is in showcasing the story's moralistic message without forcing us to sit through a sermon on ideals and virtues. I credit Caro's feminine perspective for this invaluable piece of storytelling, bringing a soft, smooth and personal eye to the town of McFarland and those who call it home.
A mixed bag of both Hollywood unknowns and actual McFarland locals, the actors that comprise White's championship caliber team are as engaging as the story itself. They bring an unusual sense of raw innocence and a deep desire of approval to the forefront. And though the film fails to truly exhibit the hardships that they live through on a daily basis, it does successfully show how each of them help to bridge the gap between the life that White expects and the one that realistically awaits him every morning.
The moments of comic relief come more often that one likely expects, and the timing helps keep the story progressing. Caro opts to not focus too hard on any specific cultural difference, rather allowing the characters to discover each other as a whole, absent of stereotypes. That isn't to say that generic misconceptions aren't part of the story; I assure you that they are. But Caro's refusal to dwell on them allow the characters to appear more authentic as they grow to understand the ways of one another.
While I had my doubts regarding a film centered on a group of highly unlikely cross country runners, I left feeling refreshed and entertained. Proving that a run is more about the journey than the final destination, Caro's McFarland, USA defies the odds, giving families a feel-good sports movie that while wholesome, isn't too pure for its own good.
