Advanced Movie Review: "The Longshots"

By Monica Peters Medina

Ahhh, a feel good movie. “The Long Shots” directed by Fred Durst (of th rock-n-roll group Limp Bizkit) starring Ice Cube and Keke Palmer may be the break you need from the violence and negative themes in movies today. This is definitely a safe movie for the family to see with an inspiring story. It’s touching to see Ice Cube in this type of role.

As with most “feel good” movies some angles of “Long Shots” plot are predictable. However, it is a VERY inspiring film which makes the moviegoer want to know more about Jasmine Plummer, whose life the film is based upon. Keke Palmer, who portrays Jasmine in the film, does an excellent job of showing the devastating emotional impact of what happens when fathers walk out of their children’s lives. Ice Cube plays the drunk uncle, once a local star athlete, that hit dire straights when he loses his factory job. His life begins to change when he begins to live his dreams through his niece by teaching her how to be a quarterback. What started as something to kill time while he babysat her for Jasmine’s mom, played by Tasha Smith, transformed into something they never imagined would change the course of their lives. Despite some physical and emotional challenges along the way (due to the pain caused by her absentee father who conveniently re-appears when he starts to smell his daughters success), Jasmin takes the Minden Browns to the playoffs.

It’s also refreshing to see Garret Morris back on screen who plays the local church pastor and inspires the impoverished town of Minden to take a clue from Jasmine’s success and do better by fixing up their town and their lives.

So, is this film a must see? Yes. This a true story based on Jasmine Plummer’s life who overcame her circumstance to do something positive with her life. We have a very diverse readership that read TheGritsnCheeseDish![TM], so I will be specific and direct with my next comment: If we as African Americans can’t stand up, support our children and celebrate their accomplishments we certainly can’t expect others to do so. *Actions speak louder than words. We must do at the box office for "The Longshots" what we we did for "American Gangster." Enough said.

*"The Longshots" in theaters Friday, August 22.