‘Home Team’ movie review: Kevin James can’t save this mess masquerading as a ‘sports comedy’

Barely a couple of minutes in, it’s evident that Residence Group gained’t be attempting very onerous to tell apart itself from common sports-comedy fare, the likes of which now we have seen numerous occasions earlier than.

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Reportedly based mostly on Sean Payton’s stint because the coach of the New Orleans Saints, the film begins with a peek into the 2009-11 NFL scandal that got here to be generally known as ‘Bountygate’. Nevertheless, the narrative promptly brushes the incident below the carpet, and as a substitute factors the floodlights on a hapless soccer crew of 12-year-olds (Payton’s estranged son amongst them) who enlist Payton as their coach. If it weren’t for the passing references to Payton’s former life as an NFL guru, one may simply mistake him for one more dad-turned-coach coaching his son’s soccer crew.

With notable names together with Kevin James, Taylor Lautner and Rob Schneider gracing the display screen, the film comes near discovering an emotional hook that might anchor its insipid storyline. However a string of unresolved plotlines, unimaginable eventualities and stereotypical characters sound the demise knell early on. Sean Payton (performed by James) is portrayed as a no-nonsense, aggressive coach who tells his gamers to ‘suck it up’ once they’re drained. When his mistrusting son confronts him about his resolution to educate a gaggle of preteens, he has no reply. The stress between them is acknowledged, however by no means totally explored.

The film is barely constant in its tone. Though it claims to be a ‘sports activities comedy’, the story is interspersed with moments of compelled humour that really feel misplaced, and it’s unclear whether or not Residence Group aspires to be a biopic, a sports activities film or a household movie. Even in its comparatively critical scenes, it falls in need of conjuring significant moments. The ultimate nail within the coffin comes within the type of an unrealistic victory… throughout which Payton’s crew secures a win by puking on their opponents. Whereas the slapstick humour could attraction to kids, this model of comedy not often elicits a chuckle in older audiences.

The story can also be dented by a bunch of uninspiring personas; a bumbling assistant coach who doubles as a (typically literal) punching bag, a simpering single mother looking out for love, and a dull-witted assistant, to call a couple of. The saving grace of the movie might be present in its little one actors, who joyfully sink their tooth into their roles. The result’s a pack of talkative, happy-go-lucky boys who perceive soccer largely by way of meals metaphors.

Residence Group takes too many detours, and exams the boundaries of its style in attempting to handle every thing from teenage awkwardness and younger like to a profession disaster. Very like the gamers within the film, it’s quite content material with a landing than aspire for victory.

Residence Group is at present streaming on Netflix