REBOUND
US, 2005, 89 minutes, Colour.
Martin Lawrence, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Breckin Meyer, Patrick Warburton, Megan Mullally.
Directed by Steve Carr.
Rebound is a sports film, a focus on an angry and self-centred coach who runs foul of the authorities because of his temper and is relegated out of the big league. He takes on a coaching job at the school in the town where he grew up, is harsh, uninterested, but gradually is won over by the kids as well as the threats from public opinion and the league. He eventually mellows, the team does particularly well, reaching the finals. Martin Lawrence is at home in this kind of role where he is at first gruff and repellent and finally kind and understanding. He also does a cameo as a cousin of the coach, Preacher Don. Wendy Raquel Robinson is the mother of one of the members of the team who is against the coach but sees the good side of him. Breckin Meyer is his agent. Patrick Warburton is the bullying coach of the opposition. Megan Mullally is the principal of the school.
The film was directed by Steve Carr who has made a number of comedies with African American leads like Eddie Murphy (Daddy Day Care, Doctor Doolittle 2) and Ice Cube (Are We Done Yet).
This film is a variation on the Bad News Bears, Mighty Ducks story.
1.An entertaining film? American? Basketball?
2.A vehicle for Martin Lawrence, the gruff persona, mellowing, kindly? His cameo as Preacher Don and his rhetorical style?
3.The basketball league, the games, the contrast with the school, struggling to make ends meet, the basketball court? The musical score?
4.The title, Roy and his life, his own rebound in professional work, in his character?
5.Roy, at the games, losing his temper? His advertisements, more concerned with his public image? Money? Called before the board, his defence, his agent and the legislation, their giving him another chance while wanting to oust him?
6.Tim Fink, the smooth-talking agent, his friendship with Roy, his continued interventions? Support?
7.Roy, the possibility of coaching at the school? The meeting with the principal? The meeting with Jeannie and her being commissioned by the principal to keep an eye on Roy? Her immediate antagonism? Her seeing his change, mellowing – and the possibility of his being a substitute father for her son?
8.The background of the school, the principal and trying to make ends meet, the staff, Jeannie and her art class? Roy and his coming into the class to get the tall boy to play?
9.The members of the team, the rag-tag bunch? Jeannie’s son? The mixture of white and black? The recruiting of Big Mac? The recruiting of the tall boy? The training, the initial matches, the failure? Building up spirit? His having to give up some of his commercials? The pressure from the league and the expectations?
10.The characters, the games, the increasing success? The exasperation of Larry Burgess and his team? Confronting Roy?
11.The familiar story of the team improving, getting through the competition, getting into the finals? The difficulties? The importance of morale in the team, the friendships and people supporting one another? The final match, Roy’s absence, the possibility of another job? His staying with the team?
12.A popular comedy, for American audiences? And hope in human nature?
