Edmund Bloxam
I'm pretty sure they just pointed the camera on Will Ferrell and said 'go'. Although someone wrote a script, but you wouldn't know, because Ferrell's character changes from scene to scene, lurching from one thing to another. There's a bit about coffee, which doesn't make any sense. Mike Ditka at all doesn't make sense. This whole movie seems to have been all shot in single takes, so lopsided and random it is. The pacing is way off: either a skit is too long, or too short. I think there's a father-son lesson, but daddy and his team are barely on screen, so that didn't work, which is typical.Was it funny? Like watching an episode of SNL, you watch jokes happen, and maybe laugh once every fifteen minutes or so. You recognise that what is happening is in fact, a succession of jokes and, out of desperation, you laugh at one or two of them.Jokes frequently fall flat, because even they don't make sense. (e.g. Ferrell attempts to taunt one of the opposition players. Why? To get him sent off? To put him off? The pay off is that the kid attacks Ferrell, to which Ferrell seems surprised, which was surely why he did it in the first place).
David Tate
I am a longtime fan of Will Ferrell and I rented this film when I was in my teens to see if it was amusing or not. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling extremely disappointed after seeing how mean-spirited Will Ferrell was in the film. I also didn't think the jokes worked. I don't place the blame on Will Ferrell, I place the blame on the script. I know there are people out there who like it, but I didn't. So, more power to the people who like it.
liam-ranga
Probably one of the most classic and funny Will Farrell, you know they always say never work with animals or children but in this movie it is a delightful change.There are probably allot of people who disagree with me but this movie is one of my favorites. Seeing Will fighting for his dad's respect by coaching his sons soccer team that eventually goes on to verse his dad's soccer team just gave me a whole 95 minutes of warm hearted laughs and a nice nostalgic feeling.Although the plot wasn't two good the kids did some pretty decent child acting (I hate child actors) and comparing Josh Hutcherson then to Josh Hutcherson now this movie showed the potential of Josh Hutcherson as a child which at the end of the day ultimately made his career.I would recommend this movie to everyone looking for a comedy to add to there list it is just a really enjoyable movie with a star studded cast which back then weren't too famous. I gave this movie a 5.8 for the listed reasons above.
tfrizzell
Will Farrell decides to coach his son's youth soccer team with mixed results in "Kicking & Screaming", an admittedly hilarious but somewhat mediocre family comedy which basically works best as a time-passer and nothing more. Robert Duvall (not quite sure why he is in here) is priceless as Farrell's win-at-all-costs father who ends up becoming the main antagonist as Farrell becomes obsessed with victories, soccer games, and coffee. Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka shows his screen persona as Duvall's hated neighbor who joins forces with Farrell and even dons his famous sweater and sunglasses from that memorable Super Bowl XX Shuffle team of 1985. Just not much material when all is said and done; the kids do nothing to help out the cause and Farrell ends up gobbling up the scenery trying to keep the sinking ship afloat. He is only minimally successful, much like the finished product. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
AD
