With the World Cup around the corner, this seems like the perfect theme (even if only one of the films focuses on soccer…sort of). Sports’ movies promote many great themes, such as solidarity and perseverance. Due to these themes, one of the most popular stories that emerges is the story of the underdog. This leads to an inevitable and predictable formula; yet somehow these movies manage to retain their individuality and all offer something different.

Of course, politics is never far away from sports and, however subtle, this element always crops up. Luckily, this genre invites great stories, wonderful characters and excellent action to make a winning combination for a fantastic film. To add further tension and excitement there is always someone commentating on the sport – whether it be a sports’ commentator, a zealous fan or a bitter rival. Despite its general formula, this genre is broad and allows for experimentation in style and approach.

More sports’ movies:
The Longest Yard (1974)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
All the Right Moves (1983)
The Best of Times (1986)
Days of Thunder (1990)
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Space Jam (1996)
Bring It On (2000)
Iron Ladies (2000)
Mean Machine (2001)
Seabiscuit (2003)
Murderball (2005)
Lords of Dogtown (2005)
Invictus (2009)

COOL RUNNINGS (1993)
Director: John Turteltaub
Cast: Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba and John Candy

Ask anyone and they will tell you that they have seen Cool Runnings and loved it. This is a genuine and unpretentious story and, being a Disney film, it naturally stirs up your emotions, but inevitably keeps you happy. This inspirational film is based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team. The very notion of athletes from the hot, sunny island competing in a winter sport is ridiculous and allows for great comedy. Even more laughs are guaranteed with its host of lovable and wacky characters. The tone is kept light with the bright colours and vibrant music of Jamaica. This is a classic example that the tale of the underdog is one of the most prevalent stories in sports’ movies; as the main characters face impossible odds, their determination is truly marvellous. If you haven’t seen this film, crawl out from under your rock and make sure you watch it.

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (1999)
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx and LL Cool J

Americans love their sports and they love American football – the huge array of films dedicated to this national sport testifies to this. Any Given Sunday is one of the many American football movies on offer, but it is on a completely different note to the vast array of upbeat and inspirational sports’ films out there. Any Given Sunday reveals how sleazy and corrupt the world of sports can be when money and politics become more important than the game itself. It follows the story of the team-players in the Miami Sharks, but also goes behind the scenes to focus on the pivotal roles that people such as the coach and the team manager play. The actors are used as tools to display the darker side of sports and although efforts are made to show a more human side to the characters, what they represent is more important than the development of their characters. You neither like nor dislike the characters, as they exist more as representations. The characters are simultaneously juxtaposed as glamorous and sleazy. The gap between old and new is also consistently brought across – particularly through the clash of the young quarterback Willie Beaman (Jamie Foxx) and his “stone-age coach” Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino). Oliver Stone’s montages and extreme close-ups contribute to the film’s intensity and the music quickens and builds up the pace as the tension mounts during every scene. The scenes are taut and tense, but despite this the film is a tad too long and does start dragging at points. The themes carried across in most sports’ films are relevant, but it is important to have a film every now and again that reveals the darker side of things.

DODGEBALL (2004)
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor and Rip Torn

Ben Stiller is truly an impressive actor. He is a rich, powerful man with a hot wife and yet he is amicable enough to allow himself to be cast in a role as moronic as that of White Goodman and then have his wife cast as a hot bisexual who thinks you’re an idiot and prefers the average underdog. Dodgeball follows the story of Peter LeFleur, whose failing gym is about to be taken over by White Goodman’s massive Globogym unless he can cough up $50 000. After a failed car-wash, Peter and the loyal members of his gym turn to the obscene sport of dodgeball, whose upcoming tournament offers a $50 000 cash prize. It is a hysterical film filled with wise-ass one-liners, random dialogue, crazy moments and a colourful bunch of losers. The story is formulaic and predictable and yet delivers far more commentary than any Oscar-winning drama. Its style sends up the artificial lifestyle of plastic America. With his traditional gym, Vince Vaughn and his band of “average joes” represent forgotten ideals of virtue and integrity in sports, as well as all aspects of life. This is a sports’ movie like many others in its support of the underdog, its politics and, with the casting of Jason Bateman, it has one of the best sports’ commentators ever. On that note, the film is filled with a fantastic bunch of cameos. On the surface it may seem like just another silly comedy and an obscure sports’ movie, but its excellent entertainment, relevant send-up and clever style make it a favourite for me.

SHAOLIN SOCCER (2001)
Director: Stephen Chow
Cast: Stephen Chow, Zhou Wei and Ng Mang Tat

The very first thing that has to be said about this film is that it is truly bizarre. The first time I watched this film I was so dumbfounded and overwhelmed by its use of every single movie genre that ever existed and the over-the-top style that I didn’t quite know what to think. The second time round, knowing what I was getting myself into, I enjoyed it and appreciated it a lot more. The film is an interesting mix of martial arts and soccer, as failed soccer player Iron Leg rounds up his brothers in order to begin a soccer team that use their kung fu skills to improve the game. Again, we are faced with an underdog story. What is really fun about this film is that the rival is so contemptuous that you are rooting for the underdogs every step of the way – the despicable opponents are even called “The Evil Team”. The film’s heightened style is initially quite distracting, but this is a great sports’ movie. It focuses on the importance of solidarity in a team and also reminds us of the sad fact that politics is prevalent in every sport. On he surface the film is very unrealistic with its use of magic realism and its crazy, melodramatic style. Yet this only serves to emphasise how real and true its themes are. This film (as well as Dodgeball) strongly reaffirms comedy’s effective function as social commentary.

Originally published in A Look Away.

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