I try to pick out movies that will entertain everyone in our family. Enough of a story to keep me from falling asleep, enough emotional involvement for my wife and an easy to follow plot for my children, with nothing too controversial or adult themed. This film was an absolute winner. It had us all cheering and crying and smiling at the various points in the film. The acting and filming were great and the story was beautifully told. Yes there are clichés and stereotypes, but that just makes it easy to follow for the children. Also, although the film has a football/soccer theme it doesn't require any special interest in this sport to enjoy (I'm no fan). Overall an excellent family movie and a real surprise. I'll be recommending this to my friends.

The true story this film was based on is touching, but I feel Davis Guggenheim failed to make any emotional connection with his audience. For most of the film, the characters actions were unconvincing. I found this particularly true with the protagonist Carly Schroeder, whose character was too ambiguous; thus not allowing the audience to really connect with her. The development of her character was, for the most part, "corny" -for lack of a better word. Lastly, Schroader seemed to be trying too hard to portray certain emotions. For example, when she grew mad, there would be this pathetic look on her face that was a cross between constipation and stubborness. All of the supporting actors didn't help either, seeing as the father was pretty much a mystery and the soccer players terrbile in actual athletic skill and acting. Furthermore, the costumes were poor, the lighting unjustified, there was noticeable sunlight during an unconvincing rain storm, and an overall poor job on the mise-en-scene. Like I said, the story is touching, but this film does not tell it in a convincing way.

This nice, small movie is a product of the Shue family of soccer fame. Siblings Andrew and Elizabeth Shue are among the producers, husband of Elizabeth is the director, and the screenplay is based on Andrew's story. In fact, the whole story is loosely based on their own family as the Shue kids grew up. Carly Schroeder is Grace Bowen (Elizabeth Shue character), only daughter, of Bryan Bowen (Dermot Mulroney). Her brother is the local high school soccer star but, after barely losing to their rivals, he gets killed in a car wreck. Dad is devastated, but sister Gracie wants to play soccer. There is no girls' soccer at their school, so she has to use a title 9 approach and petition the school board to let her even try out. Elizabeth Shue plays the mother, Lindsay Bowen. Andrew Shue plays a soccer coach.This isn't a great movie, but it is a very nice one. I especially enjoy movies based on real events, like this one was. SPOILERS: Gracie in try-outs made a good impression but was not fast enough or tough enough for varsity, and was put on the JV team. However, when the rivals came to town, coach asked her to sit on the bench as moral support, wearing her dead brother's old jersey. Coach had seen her practicing free kicks late at night, and put her in with the game on the line in OT. Her free kick just missed the mark, but she stayed in, and eventually used a move her dad had showed her to score and win the game.

I really wanted to give this movie a fair shake since Schroder was from Valparaiso, Indiana (my home town). But, alas, I can't. Although there are moments when I feel the film began to carry a decent storyline but all too often it drags into generic scenes and dry dialog. One big problem was the father character that continually seemed lackluster and unreal. I felt the plot and storyline were both cellophane thin and I was bored time after time with uninteresting characters. This, to me, was a, "how to not make a sports movie." I suppose credit should be given for something and with that I'll compliment the credits at the end of this mediocre film for giving it a home spun touch that was worth a nickle. Anyone who rates this higher than a 4 has got to be friend or family. It just doesn't fill the bill as a true and genuine "sports flick."