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- 2015
- PG
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
- 2015
- PG
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
Summary Inspired by the 1987 true story, novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. [Disney]
Directed By: Niki Caro
Written By: Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois, Grant Thompson
- 2015
- PG
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
- 2015
- PG
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
McFarland USA
60
7.3
Where to Watch
Summary Inspired by the 1987 true story, novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. [Disney]
Directed By: Niki Caro
Written By: Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois, Grant Thompson
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
60
53% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
44% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
60
53% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
44% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Costner’s uncanny evocation of Gary Cooper masculinity and Gregory Peck compassion in the role of coach Jim White is the glue that holds it together, but the rest of the cast is equally inspired.
Even good stories are never quite like a movie, and to its credit McFarland, USA doesn’t try hard to be like a movie. It tries to be something like life.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 87 User Ratings
7.3
75% Positive
65 Ratings
65 Ratings
16% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
9% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 87 User Ratings
7.3
75% Positive
65 Ratings
65 Ratings
16% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
9% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
A fantastic film, much better than other sports movies out there. It is very inspiring, funny, and gives off a very hopeful message. It may be formulaic, but hey, so are all true story films. You just have to enjoy the characters and appreciate the people.
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A canny combination of elements unites with an unlikely true story to make this more effective than you might be expecting.
McFarland is old-fashioned without being dull, pandering without feeling cloying or racist.
It works, kind of, despite its broadness, its obviousness, and its howlingly awful opening.
A new sport doesn’t equate to new ground, but there is pleasure to be had in a formula that works.
This chronicle of an ’80s high school cross country coach leading a team of Mexican farm laborers’ kids to competitive glory may be based on a true story, but the forced drama doesn’t help it to feel that way.
From the trailers, you know what this movie is about. But it turns out to be so much more. Not only are the kids down and out with no future, so is the coach. This is a chance for all of them to change their lives for the better, a second chance, so of course we are rooting for them to succeed. There's a lot more that transpires as the running season goes on, for both the kids, the coach, and the coach's family. That's what makes the movie, how this affects their individual lives. I don't buy a lot of DVDs, but I'm going to add this one to my collection.
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There have been many movies about a misfit team of underdogs and this one is so firmly fixed in the formula that almost every plot point is predictable. Kevin Costner plays a coach, who's made so many mistakes that the only job he can find is in the titular town that's dominated by Mexican farm workers. When he discovers how tough and fast the students are, he forms a cross country track team. Usually, each team member has a personality, but this one only revolves around 2. It's also missing any humor, which would have added warmth. The only thing that sets this one apart is the focus on the Latino culture. Even though it is earnest (and based on a true story), it hits all of the clichés.
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The show had some drama but was over cooked and under done. Too much effort to make the kids seem like superheros and that was the overdone. Maybe a few poor white and black kids added would have made this work better. I was given tickets to this and should have stayed home.
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There is almost no effort to create an uplifting drama here. The premise, which is solid, doesn't blend well with what Director Niki Caro, wants to achieve. There is the good performance by Kevin Costner and the brilliant cinematography that you get to see, also great shots of farmlands. But all this doesn't matters if the movie isnt good. This is a movie that clearly wants to be Field Of Dreams, but doesn't have the balls to be it. There are painfully injected jokes and tear jerking moments included for attention. But this movie really looks good and has solid performances, but really it is turd, polished and scamming you for a movie that is uplifting.
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The story of the McFarland runners is an inspirational one, but 'McFarland USA' isn’t an inspirational sports movie. The runners win some but with no real thrill of victory. The runners lose some but with no real agony of defeat. There is only running and picking, occasionally interrupted by attempts at drama and humor, and all of it completely devoid of any sustained excitement or tension.
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Production Company
Mayhem Pictures,
Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date Feb 20, 2015
Duration 2 h 9 m
Rating PG
Tagline Champions can come from anywhere
Awards
Imagen Foundation Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Heartland Film
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
