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Champions

2023

Bobby Farrelly

Woody Harrelson, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin, Matt Cook ...

5.3

571

Comedy. Drama It centros on a basketball team training and competing in the Special Olympics under the guidance of an imperfect but dedicated coach Marcus.

	Author	Review
United States	Peter Debruge Variety	"This awkward (if presumably well-intentioned) comedy might have felt enlightened 25 years ago — back when “Forrest Gump” was an Oscar favorite — but today makes for a patronizing portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities. "	NEG
United States	Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times	"Woody Harrelson offers a winning, low-key performance as a coach advising a team of adults with intellectual disabilities (...) a comforting, enjoyable and satisfying experience (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	Ross Bonaime Collider	"It’s that heart that makes Champions better than expected (...) Bobby Farrelly sticks to his comedic sensibilities, creating an endearing comedy that doesn’t need to break from the formula of similar films that have come before"	POS
United States	Mark Jenkins The Washington Post	"'Champions' is billed as a comedy, and while it is amiable, it doesn't even take a shot at being hilarious (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 4)"	NEU
United States	Derek Smith Slant	"Stuck in the past (...) It is maudlin and banal"	NEG
United States	Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter	"Woody Harrelson in Bobby Farrelly’s formulaic but endearing underdog sports comedy"	POS
United Kingdom	Tim Grierson Screendaily	"Farrelly goes for broad laughs and a crowd-pleasing spirit (...) Unfortunately, that does not keep 'Champions' from feeling patronising and cloying at times"	NEU
Canada	Radheyan Simonpillai The Globe and Mail	"A paternalistic and patronizing movie"	NEG
United Kingdom	Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"Woody Harrelson goes for slam dunk in likable basketball drama (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Esther Zuckerman IndieWire	"[It] aims for sweetness, but there's a mocking tone underneath that doesn't do it any favors"	NEU
United States	Phil de Semlyen Time Out	"You'd need to have a heart frozen in carbonite not to find something to enjoy in this big-hearted sports yarn (...) Harrelson throws himself into the role wholeheartedly. (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Nick Schager The Daily Beast	"Cliché overload (...) It makes a tired formula even more exhausting"	NEG
Canada	Mae Abdulbaki Screen Rant	"[It] is fairly predictable, and though there’s little tension, the cast is charming together, and the story has a lot of heart and warmth"	NEU
United States	Katie Walsh Los Angeles Times	"The inspiring if formulaic 'Champions' translates into a winner"	POS
United States	Todd McCarthy Deadline	"This goofball minor-league basketball yarn throws off enough amiable and vaguely raucous charm to keep a smile on sports fans’ faces much of time"	NEU
Canada	Chris Bumbray JoBlo	"It will be viewed as corny by some, but those who actually give it a chance might be charmed by the fact that it tells a sweet story without being overly sentimental. It’s a nice family flick that’s worth checking out"	POS
United States	Marya E. Gates rogerebert.com	"[Uses] its team of Disabled basketball players solely as a method towards [the coach's] redemption while completely failing to see their humanity (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 4)"	NEG
Canada	Andrew Parker The Gate	"Charming and respectable, Bobby Farrelly's basketball dramedy 'Champions' coasts along nicely thanks to its air of general likability and some well drawn characters"	POS

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