Ice Cube is one of those people who is remembered by succeeding generations very differently. Al Pacino is remembered as a man of few words and smoldering intensity by some, as a firebrand lunatic by others. Ice Cube was one of the founders of “gangsta rap” music who helped throw fuel on the fire of the L.A Riots for some, a family film actor by others. Existing in that zone for Black actors who are between 30-45 and arent Denzel Washington or Will Smith, Ice Cube has managed to carve out a career as an actor in a field where the top parts go to the two top dogs in the field. Cube lately has lately tried to corner the market for family comedies, his latest being an “inspired by real life” sports story in The Longshots.
Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) was the first girl to ever participate in the Pop Warner Football tournament, and this is her story. With much prodding by her Uncle Curtis (Ice Cube) she joins the local team and they end up being better because of her. For Curtis its a chance at redemption, as hes an unemployed former football player of local repute whos down on his luck. For Jasmine its a chance at bonding with a father figure, as hers walked out on her early. For the viewing audience, its just another paint-by-numbers, cliché ridden film about overcoming the odds. Its the American Football version of 2007s Gracie.
And judging by the lackluster box office receipts of both Gracie and The Longshots, audiences needed to see less of an age old story than ever before. Opening up behind several films which had been in theatres at least a month, breaking $11 million in its several month run in theatres, the film was forgotten right as it hit theatres as it came on the heels of The Express (a far superior football film with the same underdog theme).
Its an interesting big screen debut for director Fred Durst, of Limp Bizkit fame, as this is his first film to be released. Its his second film shot, as The Education of Charlie Banks still has yet to find a release after debuting in 2007 at the Tribeca Film Festival, and Durst actually does plenty of good things in the film. His cinematography and editing are tight, showing the signs of a good story teller down the road. While the film is awful mainly in that the screenplay is chock full of the usual plot devices in the genre, its shocking to see a guy who formerly was known as being part of the nu metal fad in music around the turn of the century as a film maker.
There is a clever pun to be had with the films title, as The Longshots is a long shot to be entertaining.
Presented in a Dolby Digital format with a widescreen presentation, the film looks and sounds great. Everything comes through cleanly and clearly; this isnt a film with a lot of color and is rather bleak, but the colors are separated and nothing bleeds together.
The requisite Deleted Scenes are included but wouldnt have added much back into the film.
Jasmine Plummer: The Real Longshot is the story of the young lady who inspired the film. Running about seven minutes, nothing really of note is said other than everyone explicitly stating that her story shows that girls can do anything.
Making The Longshots is a generic EPK making of piece that really doesnt do much.
There are Conversation With pieces with Fred Durst and Ice Cube on the film. Cube doesnt add much to the proceedings, but the interesting one is with Fred Durst. With no second unit, do to the films budget, he got to shoot the films action scenes himself and he has a couple good comments about the process.
The films Theatrical Trailer is included.
The Longshots is a good film if you have a young daughter and want to reinforce a good lesson about being anything you want. Other than that, theres no other real reason to watch The Longshots except for maybe trying to kill a couple hours of your time you know for sure youll never need again. Recommendation to avoid.
………………………………………
The Weinstein Company presents The Longshots. Directed by Fred Durst. Starring Ice Cube, Keke Palmer, Tasha Smith, Jill Marie Jones. Written by Doug Atchison and Nick Santora. Running time: 94 minutes. Rated PG. Released on DVD: December 2, 2008. Available at Amazon.
