avenir1987
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
20 years
Reviews
Full-Court Miracle (2003)
Pretty Good
The Philadelphia Hebrew Academy Lions haven't won a game in two years. This year, however, team captain Alex Schlotzky (Alex D. Linz, 'Max Keeble's Big Move') is determined to lead his team to victory in the annual Liberty Basketball Tournament, being held this year in the Lions' own gym. But it looks like it'll take a miracle to break the team's losing streak as they continue to lose games while the tournament inches ever closer. Alex manages to find that miracle in ex-professional basketball player Lamont Carr (Richard T. Jones, 'Judging Amy') who was shooting hoops at the local park while waiting for a tryout from the 76ers. Alex manages to convince Lamont to help coach the team and hopefully give them the skills to finally win.
Told on the backdrop of the legend of Jewish military hero Juddah Maccabee and the Miracle of Light, Hanukhah, Full-Court Miracle is a heart-felt story that manages to get its message across while also teaching it's audience a bit about Jewish culture and history. The story itself is nothing innovative, but is interesting and makes good parallels with the Hanukhah story. There is just enough comedy in the film to break up the more the dramatic scenes and provide a bit of relief.
Linz does a good job of carrying the film, and is supported by an equally great cast. Linz plays his character convincingly, shows emotion well, and, all in all, makes a good performance. Jones plays his character convincingly as well and is great in front of the camera. The older Schlotzkies, Jason Blicker as Marshall and Linda Kash as Cynthia, play their roles well too. Kash does a good job as the mother who only wants the best for her son, even at the expense of his own dreams. Blicker is great as the father who also wants the best for his son, but also understands that the best is what he wants for himself.
All told, Full-Court Miracle is a heartwarming movie that the family will like, if not love. The writers manage to keep basketball around as a back-drop, but do not let it take over the film, as in other sports movies.
Rating: 8/10 for a slightly less than innovative story that is rather predictable.
Told on the backdrop of the legend of Jewish military hero Juddah Maccabee and the Miracle of Light, Hanukhah, Full-Court Miracle is a heart-felt story that manages to get its message across while also teaching it's audience a bit about Jewish culture and history. The story itself is nothing innovative, but is interesting and makes good parallels with the Hanukhah story. There is just enough comedy in the film to break up the more the dramatic scenes and provide a bit of relief.
Linz does a good job of carrying the film, and is supported by an equally great cast. Linz plays his character convincingly, shows emotion well, and, all in all, makes a good performance. Jones plays his character convincingly as well and is great in front of the camera. The older Schlotzkies, Jason Blicker as Marshall and Linda Kash as Cynthia, play their roles well too. Kash does a good job as the mother who only wants the best for her son, even at the expense of his own dreams. Blicker is great as the father who also wants the best for his son, but also understands that the best is what he wants for himself.
All told, Full-Court Miracle is a heartwarming movie that the family will like, if not love. The writers manage to keep basketball around as a back-drop, but do not let it take over the film, as in other sports movies.
Rating: 8/10 for a slightly less than innovative story that is rather predictable.