Plot: What’s it about?
Minden’s Pop Warner football squad hasn’t had too much success in recent years, thanks to teams loaded with more goofballs than talented players. When times are tough, you have to take hope wherever you can find it, but for Minden, their hope comes from a most unexpected source. Curtis Plummer (Ice Cube) knows he has found the player to turn around Minden’s football fortunes, a natural quarterback that could be a dominant field presence. Sounds good, but the trouble is that this new quarterback is his niece and of course, that raises some eyebrows. At first, the locals resist the idea of a girl on the football team, but soon inspiration begins to sweep Minden and the team becomes a sensation. But can she carry Minden to a win in the big game and in any event, will she prove a girl can belong in a boys’ world?
I think we’ve seen this one done enough times now. Although based on a true story, The Longshots doesn’t remain faithful to its source and instead, settles for being another predictable underdog sports movie. This is the concept we have watched countless times before, with minimal variation and the writer here breaks no new ground. At least with such a worn concept, it should be simple to make a decent take on the theme, right? Well, whoever thought Ice Cube as the lead and Fred Durst as the director was a good idea doomed The Longshots. This isn’t even good by cliche riddled underdog sports movie standards. I hope Ice Cube hangs up his actors’ card, as he stinks up the place and then some. In short, this premise has been done before and done better by numerous movies, so avoid The Longshots like the plague.
Video: How does it look?
The Longshots is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This transfer looks good, but not quite great. The film’s visual design allows for warm colors, but there isn’t much vibrancy, so the image kind of looks washed out at times. Not to an extreme degree, but it is evident. As far as detail, this is a sharp overall presentation, but not on the same level as the upper tier Blu-ray treatments available. The contrast is smooth and consistent, while the print looks brand new. So not a remarkable looking effort, but a solid transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby TrueHD 5.1 option is on deck, but you wouldn’t know this was a lossless soundtrack. The audio is as basic as it gets, one of the least active tracks I’ve heard in years. The surrounds are silent through most of the movie and the front channels, while capable, simply can’t provide much of a sound field. This sounds like you’re watching a network television movie of the week, not a lossless surround sound track. The dialogue sounds good though, so that is at least in order. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, as well as English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some interviews, a brief featurette, some deleted scenes, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
