For Becca, a teenage girl who just lost her father, soccer is everything. But lately her team hasn’t been playing very well and Becca is beginning to associate her team’s losing with the loss of her father who was also the team’s coach. The team is able to get famous but recently injured Italian soccer star Lorenzo Vincenzo to coach them through the season and hopefully beat the rival team at the playoffs. Wendy, Becca’s single mother of three who works in a salon, is sent to pick up Lorenzo at the airport. But Lorenzo comes on to Wendy and he is unable to make it to the team’s welcome party. Unable to disappoint her daughter again (being a single working mother requires her to spend less time with her daughter than she would like), Wendy enlists her friends at the salon to transform her into Lorenzo.
Throughout Soccer Mom, Wendy masquerades as Lorenzo, coaching the team and growing closer to her daughter. At the movie’s conclusion, Becca’s soccer team is playing their rival in the playoffs and Wendy dressed as Lorenzo and the real Lorenzo meet up, and Wendy’s secret is exposed. After some coaxing, Becca realizes that her mother’s antics were only to help her and were only because she cared so much about her.
Many many comparisons can be made here: She’s the Man, Ladybugs, Mrs. Doubtfire, even Juwanna Mann. Out of those four movies, two of them are stinkers. Soccer Mom actually has the same amount of heart as She’s the Man and Mrs. Doubtfire. I know, I was surprised too. Maybe because I went into this film with such low expectations, but I really enjoyed myself. I laughed out loud repeatedly. So much, in fact, that my husband had to ask what I was watching. When I told him, his reaction was, “Really?”
Missi Pyle (Galaxy Quest, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) is the glue that holds this movie together. While the movie is geared towards teens with the inclusion of Emily Osment (Spy Kids 2 and 3, and Disney Channel Original Series Hannah Montana) as Becca, Pyle is really the star of this show. She’s consistently funny, her comedic timing is impeccable. She’s subtle as Wendy and over the top as Lorenzo, but manages to make everything work. She’s just wonderful. She just needs more starring roles instead of the supporting roles she’s played for years. I think she’s paid her dues.
Emily Osment is really great as Becca, but she really only does one thing: act annoyed. I don’t think it’s much of a stretch for a teenager to act annoyed, but it’s what is called for with this character. She’s cute and she does do a good job. I couldn’t believe it until I saw the credits, but Dan Cortese (who I will always associate with MTV Sports, but has also been on Melrose Place, Veronica’s Closet, and What I Like About You) plays the Italian soccer star Lorenzo Vincenzo. He’s not in the movie that much, but he cracked me up in every scene he was in. The beautiful Kristen Wilson (Dr. Doolittle, Twitches) plays Wendy’s best friend Dee Dee who also thinks Wendy as Lorenzo is coming on to her. She has some really funny scenes. Master P plays Dee Dee’s husband, which was a fun touch. Saturday Night Live‘s Victoria Jackson even has a small role as Becca’s therapist. This film has a GREAT cast.
Soccer Mom is a great, quality, very FUNNY family film that everyone will enjoy. The adult cast and the humor will entertain the adults, and the teen cast and cross-dressing will be enough to keep the kids happy and laughing. This is an overall great movie. I’ll be watching this one again for sure.
This DVD release is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The colors, especially the greens of the fields, are very crisp.
Heart of Goal – A behind the scenes featurette that focuses on Missi Pyle, who used Lucille Ball as inspiration for her character, and Emily Osment, who tells us that she’s played soccer for six years and didn’t need a double for any of the soccer scenes. Approx. 5 minutes.
From Mom to Man – This featurette focuses on the make-up and prosthetics used to transform Wendy into Lorenzo. Approx 4 minutes.
The trailer is also included, as well as trailers for Wow Wow Wubbzy: A Tale of Tails, Alice Upside Down, and Eloise’s Rather Unusual Halloween.
Soccer Mom is a refreshingly funny family film. It’s laugh-out-loud funny for everyone in the family, not just the kids and not just for the adults. I’m actually surprised myself that I’m about to give this a 4 star rating. For a direct to DVD release with almost no marketing whatsoever, that’s not too shabby. But, this is a family film that is supposed to make you laugh. This one went above and beyond with the cast and the script bringing more laughs than expected.
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Starz, Anchor Bay, and Ladies’ Home Journal presents Soccer Mom. Directed by Gregory McClatchy. Starring Missi Pyle, Emily Osment, Dan Cortese, Kristen Wilson. Written by Frederick Ayeroff. Running time: 92 minutes. Rated PG. Released on DVD: September 30, 2008. Available at Amazon.
