Generation Gaming
Kicking and Screaming
Review by Ross Anthony

What a fun movie! Will Ferrell is strong this time around in a film that focuses on three generations of boys: father, son and grandfather. Ferrell is caught in the middle. While Robert Duvall plays the domineering grandfather -- remember "The Great Santini?"

The picture is a little about soccer, a little about parenting, and a lot about laughing. Mike Ditka shows up and delivers a kick-butt performance. The film owes a great deal to his contributions.

In the stands at some international soccer game, Duvall grabs a stray ball from his son. The ball was last kicked by soccer great Pele. The son looks lovingly at the father, "Dad, can I have the ball." The father grimaces then replies, "You can get the next one." That line cracked me up. I loved it. I still love it -- and thankfully, it wasn't just a stray kick, there are plenty of other lines just as sideways funny in the film.

On the negative side, despite a well-deserved momentum, the script (or more likely editing) converts the team of ragtag kids into great players without demonstrated reason, this reduces the effectiveness of the climax and the credibility of the heart side of the picture. With just a little more effort they could have solved this problem.

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  • Kicking and Screaming. Copyright © 2005.
  • Starring Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall, Kate Walsh, Mike Ditka, Dylan McLaughlin, Josh Hutcherson.
  • Directed by Jesse Dylan.
  • Screenplay by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick.
  • Produced by Jimmy Miller at Universal/Mosaic.

Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Tuesday, 26-Sep-2006 14:14:45 PDT