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McFarland USA

SCORE: 88

I love inspirational movies. I love sports movies. I love when a sports movie is also inspirational. Kevin Costner seems to enjoy his way around sports films lately. I saw him in Draft Day not that long ago. Now he is in McFarland USA. Family Friendly Gaming was provided the Blu-ray + Digital HD version of McFarland USA. The movie is based on the true story of the town, school, coach, and cross country team.

McFarland USA is very real on the topic of racism. There is racism directly towards white people. There is also racism directed towards hispanic people. McFarland USA does not try to justify one side or the other. It shows how racism comes from both races, and there are people willing to look beyond the ethnic background of someone. McFarland USA does a wonderful job of accurately showing the world as it is.

This high school coach (Jim White) has a problem with his temper as well as disobedient kids. This is a real problem in our society - kids that are not being properly disciplined. It gets worse when one of their parents is in an authority position and can have a teacher/coach removed. Mr White has few options after throwing a shoe at a disobedient punk on a football team. The whiny crybaby self absorbed self important punk should have been expelled for his behavior. Mr White finds himself in a poor neighborhood.

Gang violence is a problem in McFarland USA. Too many of the kids wind up in the penitentiary. Coach White realizes these kids who pick in the fields before and after school can run. They can flat out run. So he gets the school to start a cross country team. The majority of them make something of themselves thanks to the opportunity successful running gives them.

There are numerous messages in McFarland USA. Some of them that come to mind are have hope, things can get better, work hard and you can succeed, stay where you are making a difference, accept people for who they are, give it your best effort, listen to the coach, some lives are harder than others, respect your elders, family is important, be kind, be supportive, be gracious, and be humble.

I really liked McFarland USA. There is plenty of Spanish in this movie and the bonus features. I wish this movie had shown how much easier it is to get ahead in America by speaking English. Some of the bonus features are McFarland Reflections, Juntos Music Video, Inspiring McFarland, and Deleted Scenes. McFarland USA also shows that cross country racing is not an easy sport.
- Paul

Graphics: 90%
Sound: 80%
Replay/Extras: 85%
Gameplay: 95%
Family Friendly Factor: 90%

System: Blu-ray
Publisher: Disney
Developer: Mayhem Pictures
Rating: ‘PG’ - Parental Guidance Suggested {For Thematic Material, Some Violence and Language}
Company provided product
Value/Cost of the review is greater than value/cost of provided product

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