X
- 2023
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 2 h 4 m
- 2023
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 2 h 4 m
Summary After a series of missteps, a former minor-league basketball coach (Woody Harrelson) is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
Directed By: Bobby Farrelly
Written By: Mark Rizzo, Javier Fesser, David Marqués
- 2023
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 2 h 4 m
- 2023
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 2 h 4 m
Champions
50
5.7
Where to Watch
Summary After a series of missteps, a former minor-league basketball coach (Woody Harrelson) is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
Directed By: Bobby Farrelly
Written By: Mark Rizzo, Javier Fesser, David Marqués
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
50
21% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
65% Mixed
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
15% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
50
21% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
65% Mixed
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
15% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
It's all very relatable. The film allows audiences to see that we are all human beings trying to make sense of the world and live our lives.
It’s that heart that makes Champions better than expected, a shaggy underdog story that might be a bit overlong and a bit awkward in places, but with charming characters that help smooth out these rough edges. In doing so, Bobby Farrelly sticks to his comedic sensibilities, creating an endearing comedy that doesn’t need to break from the formula of similar films that have come before.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 40 User Ratings
5.7
48% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
35% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
18% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 40 User Ratings
5.7
48% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
35% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
18% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
Saw the film last night and couldn't believe how affecting the portrayal of "The Friends" was. To say it was heartwarming is not quite enough. Harrelson and Olsen do their jobs well, but the kids do the heavy pulling here. The film gets better as we get to know the characters, and when it ends I was ready for a sequel. Loved it!
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I am surprised at the low ratings here - it was a great movie, an interesting story, it had actors with real disabilities in real life so it was not like they are making profit without involving such actors and it really made viewer to see them in great life and with positive message and story here. Really enjoyed it.
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This big-hearted underdog sports comedy runs on rails, with no great surprises, but it’s likable.
Undoubtedly the film means well, but its cliche, entirely predictable plot and uninspired message mean there’s not much to take away – it feels like a relic from a bygone era, and given Farrelly’s previous form, all feels a little insincere.
The solo directorial debut of Bobby Farrelly goes for broad laughs and a crowd-pleasing spirit, never mocking its disabled characters but, instead, celebrating their irreverent sense of humour and athletic skill. Unfortunately, that does not keep Champions from feeling patronising and cloying at times.
Harrelson never seems to have his head in the game, and not because he’s playing a character just waiting for his shot to coach the NBA. He and Farrelly appear to be slumming it in much the same way that Marcus is, as if their basic efforts working with a cast with special needs is feel-good and charitable enough.
When it comes to “The Friends”, there’s some great comic timing – Iannucci, Tevlin, and Metcalfe are particular stand-outs – but it’s hard to shake how frequently these jokes are written at their expense.
IN A NUTSHELL:
The heartwarming film was directed by Robert Farrelly, and written by Mark Rizzo, Javier Fesser, and David Marques.
This is the American remake of the 2018 Spanish film Campeones.
It’s about a former minor-league basketball coach who is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
THINGS I LIKED:
The fantastic cast stars Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin, Ernie Hudson, Kaitlin Olson, and Madison Tevlin.
Woody Harrelson served as one of the Executive Producers. He and the director worked together on the movie Kingpin back in 1996.
The players in the featured basketball game are disabled actors in real life. All of them are real basketball players from the Special Olympics! None of them ever had any acting experience before this movie.
The movie definitely has heart.
There are a lot of cute road-trip sequences.
We don’t see NBA-quality basketball, but fans of the game will still get a kick out of game sequences.
Keep watching during the rolling credits at the end for a fun treat by Woody Harrelson!
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
It’s extremely formulaic. That being said, the underdog sports formula works VERY well and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Not all of the humor lands.
Crude conversations that shouldn’t be in a movie; otherwise, it could have easily been a family-friendly hit.
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Some profanity and 1 F-bomb
The movie starts with a one-night stand.
We see an unmarried couple in bed a lot.
A woman flips the bird.
Farting
Someone projectile-vomits on another person
We see a drunk driver crash into another car.
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A little funnier than I expected, and it has enough warmth and sweetness .
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A serviceable sports genre flick that is all heart. It has to walk a fine line and does feel kind of patronizing at times but it manages to push through. Seriously and desperately in need of about a 30 minutes of editing, the back 3rd is dragging as much as possible.
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bad
[ bad ]
adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
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"Champions" can't be saved by Woody Harrelson's constant squandering and is nothing but a bunch of sex-related puns.
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Awards
Canadian Sync Awards
• 2 Nominations
Heartland Film
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
