SABRINA JONES
Staff Writer
At first glance, the poster for “The Greatest Game Ever Played” looks like a botched attempt to recreate Tom Schulman’s 1989 drama “Dead Poet’s Society” on a golf course. The sense of brotherhood and the triumphant waving of hats and hands in the air is indicative of a movie packed with heart-jerking lessons.
But from the minute the opening credits roll and the words “this is a true story” slide across the screen, the undeniable charm of its Disney-coated storyline wins out over the eye-rolling moments of complete ridiculousness.
Disney has a formula when it comes to live action movies and “The Greatest Game Ever Played” is no different. The overlying theme is the underdog’s struggle for acceptance in a “one David versus two Goliaths” scenario.
Shia LaBeouf, of the Disney Channel’s “Even Stevens” and the big screen’s “Constantine” and “I, Robot,” dares to break free from his sugary-sweet sitcom image and establish himself as main character, Francis Ouimet, an aspiring young golfer. A golf caddy at a local gentlemen’s club, Ouimet sneaks in every opportunity possible to fuel his love of golf. Patrons of the establishment eventually take notice and urge him to compete in amateur tournaments.
Through a series of flashbacks, viewers learn that Ouimet’s love of golf began with a chance meeting with the British Open’s defending champion, Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). Shifts in perspective reveal that the struggles Ouimet must overcome as an impoverished immigrant’s son are parallel to the barriers his golfing idol surpassed.
Elias Koteas (“Traffic,” “Collateral Damage”) takes on the role of Arthur Ouimet, the unsupportive, yet loving father of Francis. As with typical Disney sports-themed dramas, there is an air of uncertainty as to whether the father will show up to support his child in the big championship.
The big match, and more importantly, the specific game that is alleged to be the greatest game of golf ever played, comes down to a struggle for American and British pride at the 1913 U.S. Open. Francis, accompanied by his pudgy
10-year-old admirer and caddy, Eddie Lowery, takes on the defending U.S. champion and favored British pros on the green.
Unable to focus completely on the match, Ouimet bandies between certain victory and the unpredictability of a possible failure.
Fortunately, given that “The Greatest Game Ever Played” is another confection from the Disney-movie machine, it is unlikely that any viewers will collapse in anticipation of the not-so-uncertain end result.
It is unfortunate, however, that director Bill Paxton and screenwriter Mark Frost inject superfluous subplots and character relationships to convolute the completely cliché, but still satisfying storyline.
The introduction of unnecessary American golfers may have added to the film’s historical perspective, but it also created the looming question of for whom the audience should root. Should the ambitious American clench the title? Should the veteran with a heart of gold succeed?
In an effort to endear viewers to history’s most prominent golfers, a tangled web of altruistic characters pulls focus away from the hero.
Also unfinished is the weak incorporation of a love interest, Sarah Wallis (Peyton List), whose childhood connection with Francis is complicated by her brother’s competition with him. List is likeable and appealing as a pure-hearted supporter, yet her minimal screen time provides no chance for relationship development beyond a few winks, blushes and grins.
From a cinematic perspective, “The Greatest Game Ever Played” does an admirable job of creating a period-piece setting that is respectable enough to set it above a wide array of Disney farces.
A major annoyance is the overzealous use of computer-generated effects. Someone in the graphics department decided to go overboard with the symbolism in the movie, with each shot equivalent to an eternity in length. Ouimet’s ability to focus and clear his mind of outside distractions becomes a monotonous series of special effects that physically clear all obstructions from his field of vision. To vary the shots and create some semblance of variety, the introduction of computer-generated ladybugs and birds wears out its welcome.
Enjoyment does come toward the latter half of the film when one of the many plotlines is wrapped up and the excessive use of computer-generated golf shots ceases.
Viewers may want to munch on some salty pretzels to counteract the toothache from the sugarcoating that floods every aspect of the movie. But, despite its cliché exterior, “The Greatest Game Ever Played” is a movie with a heart of gold.
10-06-2005
