Kicking & Screaming

I was excited about "Kicking & Screaming" from the moment I had heard about it. The film stars Will Ferrell, who had me rolling in the proverbial aisles in "Old School", and it is about a youth soccer coach, a role I am personally quite familiar with.

"Kicking & Screaming" can best be described as a modern version of "The Bad News Bears". Though I should note that a remake of that particular film - starring Billy Bob Thorton, as a "Bad Santa" coach - is scheduled for release in July 2005. Or maybe it's best compared to 1994's "Little Giants", a film I've never actually seen but I hear it also uses clichéd characters to tell a similar story via pee-wee football.

In "Kicking & Screaming", Ferrell plays Phil, an inept father. It's a role that has quickly become Hollywood's favorite cliché (after a long apprenticeship in TV sitcoms). The silly plot brings in Robert Duvall as Phil's domineering father, who he must face as they both coach their respective youth soccer teams. Like many parents involved in youth athletics, Phil quickly becomes a monster - just like his dad. His son and wife, both of which are played by people as forgettable as their roles (yet another Hollywood cliché - the cardboard wife and child), try their best to be understanding of Phil's "troubles."

The otherwise standard fare offered by "Kicking & Screaming" is served with two side dishes that are odd and largely unwelcome. The first is Mike Ditka, who plays himself (and he's not even that convincing). Ditka provides a few laughs, but his role is really a waste of screen time. His presence makes little sense, and a marginally talented screenwriter shouldn't have to rely on such contrived gimmickry to tell this story.

The other strange subplot demonizes coffee. Yes, caffeine is blamed for much of Phil's mania. While this does provide a few laughs, it sends the wrong message to kids - that caffeine is somehow bad. And it's really just a mask for the obvious: that parents often get carried away trying to relive their childhood through their children. Those involved in youth sports and other competitions see this kind of parental behavior all the time. Instead of it being about their kid's pleasure, the activity becomes about their own pleasure.

"Kicking & Screaming" is rather bland fare, dotted with as many clichés as there are laughs. But if you like soccer, coach kids, have kids involved in sports, or want some mindless entertainment that isn't animated, then it's a good option. Or you can wait for Billy Bob's "Bad News Bears remake", but that might not be too appropriate for the young ones.