The Winning Season

2009 "It took a bunch of girls to make him man up."
6.6| 1h59m| PG-13| en
Details

A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team

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Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.
Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
SnoopyStyle Terry (Rob Corddry) is the high school principal and he invites his old classmate Bill Greaves (Sam Rockwell) back to coach girls' basketball. He's a drunk busboy. He tries to reconnect to his daughter from his failed marriage. He's still struggling with his past basketball dreams. The girls' team isn't any good and has only 6 girls with 1 on crutches. The school bus driver Donna (Margo Martindale) helps out.It's an odd mix of Rockwell playing a slacker indie and the girls doing a fun underdog sports movie. It doesn't always mix well but there are enough good parts. The characters are likable. There is some fun with the girl drama clashing with Rockwell. Rooney Mara and Emma Roberts play two of the girls. Emma is the more compelling actress. It's reminiscent of 'Bad News Bears' with a drunken Walter Matthau.
Saad Khan THE WINNING SEASON – CATCH IT ( B ) The Winning Season is one of those Independent movies, which try to cover all the Clichés of Independent Cinema. In this movie we will see all the typical Clichés, A Loser Dad (Check), Father, Daughter Broken relationship (Check), Racist (Check), Gays (Check), Handicaps (Check), Teen Romance, where Boy is Callous (Check), Teen Girl falling for older man (Check), Drunk Coach (Check) and above all Quirky comedy with Wanna be Realistic ending (Where they Lost the Game & still happy because they come so far)Duhhh. So, after checking all these Cliché you can see what this movie is about "Dealing with every effing issue ever existed in Independent movies at Once". Sam Rockwell, Margo Martindale, Emma Roberts, Rooney Mara, Conner Paolo & all others were good. So, besides saying all this I won't say it was a bad movie, I think it was pretty engaging because every second something was happening so you don't get bore. Rent it on DVD & enjoy (Don't buy) it will work great on lazy morning.
coco234 I loved this movie. I rented it on demand the same day as theatrical release. I thought it would be a goofy off the wall sort of comedy with Rob Corddry in it as the school principal. To my surprise this was a comedy that was very touching and heartwarming. I loved the developing relationship between Sam Rockwell (the girls coach) and the team. I was also very pleased to see a movie with a group of teenage girls that did not depict them as a bunch of catty little snots. Yes the team has their differences and cliquishness, but that is minimal compared to the bonding that goes on. Margo Martindale is great as the assistant coach. The actors in this movie are pitch perfect acting up to the limit of a real character but never crossing the line to where they are not believable. See this movie when you just want to feel good!
sundevil27 Just got back from seeing the premiere of The Winning Season at Sundance 09' and couldn't be more thrilled to report back that we have a winner.The basic elements of the story are familiar; down in out coach finds a second chance with a bunch of scrubs and you know the rest. The Winning Season isn't groundbreakingly different from its ancestors, but just enough in all the right places to make this "dramedy" a very rewarding viewing. Audiences familiar with typical indie fare, will find that The Winning Season is indeed cut from an indie mold. The Winning Season does not gloss over the coach's failures, his abusiveness or the realities of the steep obstacles he faces. This is a good thing though, because being able to see the dark nature of the human condition makes the successes all that much more enjoyable. The strength of the The Winning Season is in its balances and ultimately the director/writers decision to allow humor and healing to be the driving force as the movie plays out. Far too often indie films allow their depressive themes to run rampant in what appears to be an effort to increase anti-depressant sales. There a lot of folks who think of any movie labeled as a "dramedy" to be fluff or mainstream box office disguising itself as an indie movie, but I would beg to differ. There is always room for reality and laughter to co-exist in a uniquely indie vision, and in the end movies should be allowed to make the viewer feel rewarded. The Winning Season aims to do that, and it's pretty much hit that mark.On to the cast, Sam Rockwell (always underrated) is right on the money with his performance that never waivers from the lead characters self destructive nature as well as delivering such wonderfully dry humor that you keep thinking to yourself why isn't this guy getting more credit for being such a great actor. The young women in the film who make up the team are terrific and give such a sweetness to each of their roles, Emma Roberts in particular is fantastically clever in her role. Also, what a bonus to have Rob Coddry of Daily Show fame, as the goofy principle he just adds the right comedic touches to the scenes between he and Rockwell. Finally James Strouse, coming off two other well received Sundance films, ups his game here and brings a very strong effort. He should have very little problem getting more gigs with this type of quality output.