Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
Feel-good comedy has nice messages, also language, drinking.
Based on 1 parent review
What is the story?
Professional football coach Sean Payton (Kevin James) is placed on administrative leave while under investigation by the NFL in HOME TEAM. He decides to go home to small town Texas to visit his estranged son Connor (Tait Blum). Initially planning to stay only a few days, Sean takes an interest in Connor’s ragtag high school football team, the Warriors. Their coach, Troy (Taylor Lautner), asks Sean to help them. Connor isn’t too sure about his father’s sudden presence in his life, but his mom, Beth (Jackie Sandler), and stepdad, Jamie (Rob Schneider), welcome Sean to the group, and the kids on the team are excited when they finally start winning in games. What is uncertain is what will happen if and when Sean is allowed to return to his professional job in New Orleans, and whether it will happen before or after the Warriors’ season ends.
Is it good?
Popular actors, a cast of likeable young men, and a wholesome tone make this feel-good comedy a natural crowd pleaser. Home team it starts with a plausible (but ultimately glossed over) true story and mixes in a bunch of silly secondary characters and situations. The production also looks like a family affair, with siblings, spouses and other relatives of producer Adam Sandler and star James in various roles. There is definitely some humor in this film that borders on the tasteless, Sandler style, including constant mocking of a character who is an alcoholic and torrential bouts of projectile vomiting.
But other parts are very funny, like Schneider’s stereotypical hippie stepfather (who brings his special tea to games and “makes his own lavender soap”), the inept hotel manager, and the tween team’s gleeful celebration at the hotel pool (“this is what it feels like to win” ). As a down-on-his-luck Super Bowl coach, James exudes the confidence of a successful man who knows his game. Lautner is his ideal counterpart, allowing him to take center stage as both actor and character. The boys on the team are portrayed as adorably innocent high schoolers who keep a positive attitude in the face of utter defeat and maintain their values even when they start winning. There’s an unforgettably cute scene where they all go as wing players to sing backup when one of their teammates serenades a girl he likes.
Talk to your kids about…
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Families can talk about why Connor is so unwelcoming to his dad at first Home team. Why would he be uncomfortable with his dad coaching his team?
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How do the guys on the Warriors team show teamwork on and off the court? Why is this such an important character strength?
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What lessons did Sean Payton learn from his son and other boys during his time away from the Saints?
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The film is based on a true story. Where could you go to find out more about Payton and the bounty program controversy that got him suspended? Do you think the movie does a good job of explaining the controversy and Payton’s role in it? Why or why not?
Did we miss something about diversity?
Research shows a link between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews that will be published on an ongoing basis. You can help us help children