BEING SORT OF yet another entry into the underdog vs. the rest of the known world genre, we review and respectively submit for your approval, our recollections and perspective on this Robby Benson vehicle. . And proud it should be as this ONE ON ONE joins in lock step with such entries as the recent THE BLIND SIDE, ROCKY (and his friends: II, III, IV, V, BALBOA & now CREED) and HOOSIERS. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE dared to classify this perhaps forgotten little family picture from 1977, it does have some inherent elements that fly in the face of any attempt at pigeon holing it. In addition to the obligatory struggle that indeed is at the center of any drama like this, ONE ON ONE dares to break away on its own, pursuing a definite different route in its path to a successful conclusion.MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE film introduces an additional obstacle to the chagrin of protagonist, Henry Steele (Robby Benson). The iron fisted and authoritarian rule by Head Basketball Coach Moreland Smith (G.D. Spradlin).* The Coach takes as a personal affront the young Steele's open display of being a free spirit. The Coach pulls the rug out from beneath him; voiding his athletic scholarship.IT IS AT this juncture that the young student athlete's future becomes most dependent on his student tutor, Janet Hayes (Annette O'Toole). Whereas the slightly older co-ed had been less than sympathetic to his plight, her attitude quickly shifts as her prepping him for his various courses continues after her stipend is also spiked by the coach. In spite of earlier hostilities, the two become L-O-V-E-R-S!THE STORY REACHES a climax, a crescendo and a conclusion (all three)when young Steele, who managed to not only remain on the Varsity hoops squad, but also manages to win the big game. Rather than offering any apology with his congratulations, the coach offers to reinstate his tuition free ride. To this, young Steele replies by referencing the coach. Quoting a previous tirade of Coach Smith's of: "Up your ass with a red hot poker.THE TWO YOUNG lovers are the shown going off somewhere, embracing and enthusiastically swapping spits. (Shocked, Schultz?)THE ENDNOTE * Veteran character actor was well cast in the role of Coach Moreland Smith, which was very similar to his characterization of head Coach B.A. Strothers in NORTH DALLAS FORTY (1979). As a matter of fact, Mr. Spradlin most usually played unsympathetic, snake in the grass types. Remember him as Senator Geary in THE GODFATHER: PART II? The only "good guys" in his resume that we recall are those appearances as a LAPD Police Captain on the DRAGNET TV Series in the late 1960's o mid '70's!

"One on One" is an average 70s sports flick with a couple of unlikeable characters that spoiled the film for me. While Henry is certainly likable in his quest to overcome academic and athletic adversity at college, I found nothing redeeming in the Janet (his tutor) and Malcolm (Janet's boyfriend) characters.What makes Janet & Malcolm unlikeable? Janet is intellectually arrogant, condescending, and insulting toward Henry, and thinks herself way more intelligent than she really is. But her boyfriend Malcolm was twice as arrogantly "intellectual" and insulting than her toward Henry. They act like they think they're Ivy League students (or even more intelligent than Ivy League students), yet they're at a low-ranked college in the West. What a laugh. What gave them the right to treat anyone the way they treated Henry? The worst was the scene where they team up to insult Henry's intelligence. I felt sorry for Henry because of the treatment he had to endure from Janet & Malcolm.Or was it common for "above average intelligence but nothing special" college kids in the 70s to act as arrogant, insulting and condescending as Janet & Malcolm did in this movie? Yeah, Malcolm's a professor, but my point stands. I'm wondering why they were written in the script to be as insulting and condescending as they were.Other than those 2 characters, the film was a decent way to spend a couple hours on an afternoon, and it's a somewhat interesting view into 1970s college athletics.

While Robby Benson and his girlfriend depict simple, two- dimensional characters in this movie, the supporting cast isactually quite convincing. The story is interesting and told prettywell, so the movie keeps up a good pace. While the end of themovie is rather predictable, it is hard to not root for David to againslay Goliath; this time using a Red Hot Poker as his only weapon.Keep in mind that this movie came out in 1977, long before thecurrent crop of athletic and recruiting scandals, including a teammate being charged with homicide at a major college. Thisfictional tale (One on One) does not vary much from the reality thatsome of these kids go through when they leave home for the firsttime and enter the Big Business of college athletics.

I watched this when I was at Uni. I was going through a negative patch and found that this film gave me a great lift. It taught me that it is much more fun doing things together than on your own. It also taught me that you can succeed if you really have the desire.The music was great and was added to my collection of soundtracks. It also turned me on to the talents of the leading lady.A good feeling film.