Hustle: I like it raw and real
So, let's say that you invited me over for a Movie Night!
You and your family bestow upon me the honor of picking the flick.
I say "Hustle"?
I go on to say "It's a movie produced by LeBron James. It stars Adam Sandler. He plays a former basketball player
(You might cut me off and say
"That Adam Sandler?" ---- YEP)
... turned NBA talent scout (working for the 76ers), sent around the world to look for stars. He loves his junk food, and he's married to Queen Latifah. "
(YEP,
THAT Queen Latifah)
You might then sigh and say to me "Dammit, Rambling Praphit. You come here, we let you pick the pizza toppings. You put pineapple on our pizza. You put M&M's in our popcorn. And If that weren't bad enough, you select this ridiculous Adam Sandler movie. *deeper sigh* Get the bleep out of our house."
Normally, I wouldn't blame you (except for the pineapple, cuz that's delicious), but we're talking SERIOUS Adam Sandler.
There's goofball AS.
And thespian AS.
I’m on the team of the latter.
I gave y'all the premise, but here are some more ingredients:
Robert Duvall is up in here (he runs the 76ers), so is Ben Foster (who always plays an asshole) next in line for the 76ers kingdom crown, and Heidi Gardner (tied in line with Ben for 76ers kingdom crown). Duvall is barely in this movie. Perhaps he’s on team Goofball AS, and thought they were filming "Grown Ups 3", but he's out, so Ben (the asshole) is in. Heidi's character just kinda leaves the film as well. Most of the bad that happens here is kind of her fault. Way to go, Heidi. Way to sit on the bench.
Sandler, with again QUEEN LATIFAH by his side finds the talent he's looking for - Bo Cruz, played by Juancho Hernangomez.
Juancho looked familiar to me. I looked him up. He's an actual NBA player. I don't know him from following basketball though, I know him from NBA video games. I remember seeing his name in a game, and thinking to myself "Juancho (a name too fun not to constantly shout) must be on my team.
How cool is that?? Yay, Juancho! On to the Oscars, baby!
On a side note: when you google "Hustle cast" - this guy pops up.
No, seriously -
Lyon Beckwith. I don't remember him in this movie. He looks ridiculous (a gym membership can be a drug :).
I wish he was in this movie.
They don't list a character name. Is he a stuntman? Catering? A waterboy? Did he direct? I have no idea.
Anyway, we've all seen this type of movie before:
There's a THING (in this case Basketball), but it could be anything - boxing, dance, checkers. There's an outsider (Juancho!) who's excellent at said THING, who is discovered by an American. The American must groom them, because "you're good, but are you AMERICAN good?".
There are some ups, downs, some heart-warming moments. Some inspirational quotes - in this case "Never back down".
There's a lot of life lessons like "Don't text and drive", and "Eat healthy" (while simultaneously rocking product placement for Burger King and Pepsi :) .
This flick checks all of the Sports Movie boxes. It's very formulaic. On a scale from 1 to 10 (one, being random, like Sam L Jackson getting eaten by that shark,
and two, comic book movies - I love you, Marvel, but... you know... ) I'd say this is a 9 1/2.
A couple of twist at the end, but they were minor.
I'm not really a Sports Movie guy, so I'll give it two grades.
Grade A-, for people who who dig these types of flicks, as well as for athletes. It could have used some time-trimming. Too many training/practicing montages for my taste, but like I said, it checks all of the boxes. And it's family-friendly... well, except for Kenny Smith (brand of wholesomeness) and Queen Latifah (also brand of wholesomeness) both saying the word "titties". Ha! - still jarring. But, what do I know?? - perhaps all families in 2022, casually throw "titties" around.
And a Grade B, for everyone else.
It prob won't win any Oscars (sorry, Juancho), but it's still a good watch.
There's a part in the movie when Juancho fights with a player named Kermit. Juancho has to restrain himself, cuz... well, that's a box to check. Personally, I like my movies raw and real. For a grade A from me, I would have had Juancho wrestle with Kermit, and them have Juancho suddenly, and literally bite Kermit's head off. Then, he's shaking and waving Kermit's severed head in the air, and celebrating.
Juancho goes to jail, and swiftly receives the electric chair. He horrified the nation with this act, so maybe he skips jail and goes right to the chair. Juancho's family vows revenge against the NBA for instigating this "crime". They start their assassin training - gearing up for a sequel.
Adam and Queen Latifah flee to... Russia, where they become drug lords. AND in the end, we find out that Adam Sandler was a ghost the whole time.
Now, THAT'S a Rambling Praphit Production of a Sports Movie. Good, right?? But, "Hustle" was a good story too, I guess. It's silly to compare ideas. Not everyone has it like me.
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