Kicking and Screaming
Rated PGThe Basics
Title: Kicking and Screaming
Rating: PG
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages: 8+
Ages 3 - 7: Red
Ages 8 - 12: Green
Ages 13 - 17: Green
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal:
Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Green
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green
Review:
Competition is the name of the game in this
movie's father-son relationship. Phil (Will
Ferrell) has put up with his overly competitive
father (Robert Duvall) his whole life. Now
Phil's son, Sam, is playing soccer with grandpa
as the coach. When Buck trades his grandson
to another team, Phil has had it. He doesn't
want Sam to go through what he did, sitting
on the bench. Phil becomes the coach of Sam's
new team, but his main goal is to beat his
father. He enlists Mike Ditka, Buck's next-door
neighbor and mortal enemy, to be his assistant
coach. Ditka plays himself wonderfully, tough,
mean and intimidating and the men bring in
a couple ringers to help win the game. Phil
has become a different man with fun out the
window and winning being everything. The team
does well but only the ringers get the ball
and Phil's son ends up a benchwarmer. Everything
comes to a head during the championship game
between the father's and son's teams. Will
Ferrell has a warm and funny screen presence
and seems to have a good rapport with the
children he is coaching until he turns into
psycho coach. This movie is not quite as good
as "Elf" but it is in the running
as an entertaining film. There are some thematic
elements that are more mature. There is also
some language and crude humor. If your children
play soccer, or any youth sport, you will
enjoy seeing this movie with them. What makes
Phil see the changes in himself? Is it OK
for parents to apologize to their children
when they make a mistake? Does it make children
realize that everyone makes mistakes, not
just them?
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 Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies
since she was a small child. This
love of film eventually brought
her to the point in life where
she is now, a film critic. She
was featured on WCCO radio for
three years on the “Dark
in the Morning” show with
Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became
the film critic for the syndicated
“Ruth Koscielak Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a
year and has had the opportunity
to interview a number of directors
and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public
access show called the "Cinema
Judge" and has ventured into
writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The
Twin Cities movie magazine is
available, for free, at most local
Blockbuster's and local movie
cheaters.
Her website is: www.lindathomasmovies.com
As one of the few female reviewers
in the Twin Cities area, she brings
a unique point of view to her
reviews. Linda has raised two
children, a boy and a girl, and
knows what they like in movies
and what is appropriate. Hopefully,
her reviews will help your family
in choosing where to next spend
your movie-going dollar.
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