The LongshotsMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 52 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
7 OK for kids 7+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    The more it builds, the more it grows on you. Read full review

  • 67
    Entertainment Weekly |

    Hopelessly clichd. Read full review

  • 60
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    It also has another watchable turn from Ice Cube, and, as with his previous films, the rap artist-actor leads by example. Read full review

  • 60
    Washington Post |

    The characters have an equally realistic appearance that's rarely seen in Hollywood productions these days Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times |

    Cube fills the bill as the shaggy, aimless Curtis, a veritable ghost of glories past. It's not a particularly layered performance, but it works. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Ruthe Stein

    Leaves you feeling buoyed, but you must endure a level of overacting more suitable for the soaps. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | Joe Leydon

    While The Longshots is by no means an unpleasant experience, it feels like a project carried out by people who began with the best of intentions but weren't quite able to sustain their initial enthusiasm. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    The saga is an undeniably heartwarming one about perseverance, hard work, and pride in community. And who could criticize that? Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Nathan Lee

    What makes this one different? Absolutely nothing. (Sure, it's based on a true story, but I mean come on, whatever.) Read full review

  • 40
    The Hollywood Reporter | Sheri Linden

    Every triumph registers low on the emotion meter, and most of the supporting characters are two-dimensional at best. Read full review

View more reviews for The Longshots on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 7+ Girl-powered sports film is predictable but sweet.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this film, although mostly fine for younger kids, does have a few mature themes. The main character's unemployed uncle drinks a lot (out of a paper bag) and is basically a couple of notches up from being homeless. A deadbeat dad makes a brief appearance in which he once again disappoints his daughter. And a well-liked character suffers a heart attack on the football field. The language in the film is standard for a PG film ("ass" is about as strong as it gets), and there's no sexual or violent content of note.
  • Families can talk about what makes Jasmine a good role model. What other positive (or negative) role models did you notice in the movie? Kids: What do you think about girls playing football? Should they be allowed to play on boys' teams if there aren't enough girls to form a separate league? Families can also discuss whether sports movies are too predictable and tear-jerking -- or whether that's just what you want in this kind of film.
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Jasmine proves that girls can actually play football, instead of just being cheerleaders and spectators. Curtis stops drinking and steps up to coach Jasmine and the team. Jasmine is ridiculed by her school's "mean girls" -- but it's obvious that their behavior isn't admirable.
What to watch for
  • violence false1 Violence and scariness: There's some hard shoving and tackling on the football field. A coach has a heart attack and collapses on the field. (Possible spoiler alert! He doesn't die.)
  • sex false1 Sexy stuff: A man asks a woman on a date, and they're shown flirting with each other and hugging. A boy refers to his testicles as "King Kongs," and someone corrects him, calling them "ping pongs."
  • language false2 Language: Mostly mild: "damn," "dookie," "stupid," "ass."
  • consumerism false2 Consumerism: Tyra Banks is mentioned several times, and her talk show plays on the main character's television. Other celebrities and brands featured include Beyonce, Foxxy Brown, Muhammad Ali, Yao Ming, Sprite, and Walter Payton (Ice wears his #34 jersey through most of the movie).
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Curtis buys large cans of beer, which he hides in a paper bag, and he drinks a lot -- until he starts coaching the team . A couple of homeless-looking men also carry around paperbags that are presumably filled with cans or bottles of alchohol.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

The Longshots Movie Ratings + Reviews

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So-so 1,831 fan reviews

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