Our sneak peak at @DisneyStudiosCA #McFarland #review

By Jennell Dukovac, CanadianMomEh.com

I had to opportunity to take a sneak peak at Disney’s McFarland. The movie was, in a typical Disney fashion, very heartwarming and entertaining. Going into the preview, we knew very little about the film. We knew that it had Kevin Coster, and that it was about cross country running.

The film had a lot of features we liked. It had drama, hope, cheering for the characters, as well as a few tear jerking moments (à la Disney), and of course quite a bit of comedy, not adult comedy, but good family comedy. There were some moments where I, along with everyone else in the theatre, was laughing out loud and other moments I was on the edge of my seat holding my breath with anticipation, willing the runners forward.

So what is this movie about? It is based on the 1987 true story, “McFarland, USA” follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged farm town in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Mexican-American high school, with whom they ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well. In fourteen years the Mcfarland Cross Country Team brought home nine Championships.

One thing I truly appreciated was at the end of the movie, right before the credits rolled, they showed the main characters and their true life counterparts and a brief description of what they did and where they are now. I feel that it really helped to drive home the connection between the movie character and the real life people who faced the challenges and hardships of growing up in an economically depressed town.

I left the theatre with an uplifted spirit, and genuinely feeling happy and content. Some of the main characters of the team were developed more than others, but it added some extra depth to the movie apart from the “Rah rah rah, go team” sentiments. 

I think the movie also touches on some of the cultural and financial hardships which migrant workers have to deal with and endure in the US, and to a lesser degree in Canada also. It certainly gave me a little more insight as to their lives and their struggles. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a great family movie filled with uplifting emotions and laughter, this movie has it. It is a great family movie with a good cast of characters. I haven’t seen too many Disney movies which have disappointed me, and this one, much like the team, is a winner. 

CHAMPIONS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE- McFarland,USA