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ComedyDrama

Champions

- Every dream team starts somewhere.

A stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach is forced to train a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service.

Release Date : 2023-03-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Gold Circle FilmsFocus Features

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Woody Harrelson

Character Name : Marcus

Original Name : Woody Harrelson

Gender : Male

Kaitlin Olson

Character Name : Alex

Original Name : Kaitlin Olson

Gender : Female

Cheech Marin

Character Name : Julio

Original Name : Cheech Marin

Gender : Male

Matt Cook

Character Name : Sonny

Original Name : Matt Cook

Gender : Male

Ernie Hudson

Character Name : Coach Phil Peretti

Original Name : Ernie Hudson

Gender : Male

Madison Tevlin

Character Name : Cosentino

Original Name : Madison Tevlin

Gender : Male

Joshua Felder

Character Name : Darius

Original Name : Joshua Felder

Gender : Male

Kevin Iannucci

Character Name : Johnny

Original Name : Kevin Iannucci

Gender : Male

Ashton Gunning

Character Name : Cody

Original Name : Ashton Gunning

Gender : Male

Matthew Von Der Ahe

Character Name : Craig

Original Name : Matthew Von Der Ahe

Gender : Male

James Day Keith

Character Name : Benny

Original Name : James Day Keith

Gender : Male

Alex Hintz

Character Name : Arthur

Original Name : Alex Hintz

Gender : Male

Casey Metcalfe

Character Name : Marlon

Original Name : Casey Metcalfe

Gender : Male

Bradley Edens

Character Name : Showtime

Original Name : Bradley Edens

Gender : Male

Alicia Johnston

Character Name : Coach Maya

Original Name : Alicia Johnston

Gender : Female

Tom Sinclair

Character Name : Blair

Original Name : Tom Sinclair

Gender : Male

Mike Smith

Character Name : Attorney McGurk

Original Name : Mike Smith

Gender : Male

Barbara Pollard

Character Name : Dot

Original Name : Barbara Pollard

Gender : Female

Alexandra Castillo

Character Name : Judge Mary Menendez

Original Name : Alexandra Castillo

Gender : Female

Jean-Jacques Javier

Character Name : Bartender

Original Name : Jean-Jacques Javier

Gender : Male

Scott Van Pelt

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Scott Van Pelt

Gender : Male

Jalen Rose

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Jalen Rose

Gender : Male

Seán Cullen

Character Name : Frank O'Connolly

Original Name : Seán Cullen

Gender : Male

Jacob Blair

Character Name : Blake Lassiter

Original Name : Jacob Blair

Gender : Male

Ryan DeLong

Character Name : Headband

Original Name : Ryan DeLong

Gender : Male

Cory Wojcik

Character Name : Bus Driver

Original Name : Cory Wojcik

Gender : Male

Lauren Cochrane

Character Name : Mother on Bus

Original Name : Lauren Cochrane

Gender : Female

Eddy Norman

Character Name : Child on Bus

Original Name : Eddy Norman

Gender : Male

Stephanie Sy

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Stephanie Sy

Gender : Female

Clint Allen

Character Name : Shakespeare Actor

Original Name : Clint Allen

Gender : Male

Heath Vermette

Character Name : Factory Supervisor

Original Name : Heath Vermette

Gender : Male

Aaron Hughes

Character Name : Opposing Coach

Original Name : Aaron Hughes

Gender : Male

Champ Pederson

Character Name : Peter the 'Ringer'

Original Name : Champ Pederson

Gender : Male

Joanne Zahaiko

Character Name : The Beasts Coach

Original Name : Joanne Zahaiko

Gender : Male

Lois Brothers

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Lois Brothers

Gender : Female

Ryder Dueck

Character Name : Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Ryder Dueck

Gender : Male

Vance Halldorson

Character Name : Cheering Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Vance Halldorson

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-03-23

Have you seen "The Shiny Shrimps" (2019)? Well this reminded me very much of that comedy effort as Woody Harrelson portrays the disgraced basketball coach "Marcus". After one altercation too many on the court, he is ordered by a judge to do some community service coaching a group of young children with learning difficulties. Right from the start, he hates the idea. They have precious little team skills, hand-eye co-ordination, and the only one who is any way competent refuses to have anything to do with him. Luckily, "Johnny" (Kevin Iannucci) has a big sister "Alex" (Kaitlin Olson) who manages to get the coach to commit and focus more on the team - and, well you can easily guess the rest. This is one of those life-affirming films that is well written with loads of characters and dry - frequently pretty black - humour. The thing has an inevitability to it, but like the "Shrimps" it's about inclusion. It's about making sure everyone gets a chance to take part, to enjoy, to thrive - teamwork, family (meatloaf - yuk!) and a genuine sense of celebration feature increasingly and effectively. It isn't a film you will remember for long, it's entirely formulaic - but Harrelson and Iannucci are on good form and I did enjoy it.

M

Manuel São Bento

@msbreviews

2023-05-17

MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2023-edition "Champions is one of those feel-good sports flicks designed to leave viewers with a smile on their faces. A beautiful, heartwarming example of how formulaic stories can indeed be elevated by the filmmakers and actors involved. Bobby Farrelly focuses on an inclusive cast, allowing everyone a moment to shine, taking advantage of the endless charisma emanating from Woody Harrelson and Kaitlin Olson to help with the most complex dialogues. An essential, insightful, informative film about people with intellectual disabilities that everyone should allocate some of their time to watch." Rating: B-

T

tmdb46673632

@tmdb46673632

2023-06-08

* This has to be one of the only movies I hate with a passion. I, myself, am not psychically disabled, so I don't feel directly offended by this films pre-snarky, and downright criminal sense of humor. Every second it feels like _Harrelson_ has sex. The first scene starts by implying that the two characters on screen "did it." The film tries to make its "steamy moments" feel romantic but it just feels awkward. _Harrelson_ and many others characters make fun of the disabled people. The message of _Champions_ is to try no matter what your disability is, but the whole entire time they make fun of anyone who is not "normal." (0/10 Do not watch.)