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"REBOUND" (2005) (Martin Lawrence, Wendy Raquel Robinson) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Mild Heavy None None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None None *None *Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Mild Moderate Mild QUICK TAKE: Comedy: In order to keep his college eligibility after one too many meltdowns, a vain and self-centered basketball coach reluctantly agrees to coach a bunch of misfits at his former middle school. PLOT: Roy McCormick (MARTIN LAWRENCE) was once a great college basketball coach. An inflated ego, too many endorsements and a volatile temper, however, have resulted in a looking streak that has officials at Ohio Polytech University concerned. That comes to a head during yet another outburst at a game that results in him being suspended for life from the NCBA. However, Roy's quick thinking agent, Tim Fink (BRECKIN MEYER), knows that the rules state a disciplined college coach gets one more chance before such a lifetime ban. The only problem is that no other team in any league wants him. That is, except for the kids who make up the Mt. Vernon Junior High Smelters basketball team where Roy went to school many years earlier. Realizing it's their only chance at redemption, Roy and Tim agree to the coaching offer that comes as a complete surprise to Principal Walsh (MEGAN MULLALLY). Considering that the Smelters have yet to win a game, let alone score a point, especially against the likes of the local powerhouse coached by Larry Burgess, Sr. (PATRICK WARBURTON), the principal agrees. With the aid of assistant coach Mr. Newirth (HORATIO SANZ), Roy thinks he'll have no problem racking up the victories. Unfortunately, he's yet to meet the likes of the thirteen-year-old boys on his new team. They include Keith Ellis (OREN WILLIAMS), the only talented kid of the bunch who has no concept of team play; One Love (EDDY MARTIN), a kid obsessed with his basketball shoes and any potential endorsement deals; the diminutive Ralph (STEVEN ANTHONY LAWRENCE) who has a nervous stomach; the nearsighted Goggles (GUS HOFFMAN); and the less than intimidating Fuzzy (LOGAN McELROY). Roy's initial approach is one of indifferent laziness that doesn't impress Keith's mom and school worker Jeanie (WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON) who doesn't like the college coach or his attitude. When Roy's last endorsement deal is canceled, however, he suddenly finds the motivation to prove he can coach any team to victory. Adding tough girl Big Mac (TARA CORREA) and the towering but awkward band member Wes (STEVEN CHRISTOPHER PARKER) to the squad, Roy sets out to whip the team into shape and get them on the winning track. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Since it's a comedy about kids aimed at kids, it's possible they may, especially if they're fans of anyone in the movie and/or films about basketball. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For mild language and thematic elements. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MARTIN LAWRENCE plays a self-absorbed college coach who's banned from the college ranks due to one too many temper tantrums on the court. Motivated by losing his last endorsement deal, he then sets out to turn the losing Smelters team into a winning squad, all while winning over Jeanie in the process. WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON plays one of the player's single moms who doesn't like Roy and the sort of role model image he presents to the kids. Once she sees his change in demeanor, however, she eventually softens her opinion of him. BRECKIN MEYER plays Roy's motivated agent who wants to keep him in the game so that he gets his commission. HORATIO SANZ plays Roy's assistant coach. OREN WILLIAMS plays Jeanie's son, the most talented player on the team who's a one-man squad until Roy teaches him about the benefits of teamwork. EDDY MARTIN plays another teen player who's fixated on his basketball shoes and the vanity of thinking he's going to land some sort of endorsement deal. STEVEN CHRISTOPHER PARKER plays a towering, but awkward teen who reluctantly joins the team. He ends up being the boyfriend to Big Mac. TARA CORREA plays the school's resident tough girl who fights with the boys before joining the team where she takes out her aggression on her own and opposing players. She also becomes Wes' domineering girlfriend. STEVEN ANTHONY LAWRENCE plays the short kid on the squad who has a tendency to vomit under stress. LOGAN McELROY plays another player on the team. GUS HOFFMAN plays the team player with thick prescription goggles. PATRICK WARBURTON plays a conceited and high-strung rival coach who wants to defeat Roy as a means of retaliation. MEGAN MULLALLY plays the school's principal who allows Roy to coach there. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG. Brief profanity (a few damns) is present, as are various colorful phrases, while some very brief sexual innuendo occurs and a little bit of cleavage is seen. Some characters have bad attitudes, while comedy-based violence includes a tough girl hitting others (and other such related physical contact), a real bird mascot accidentally being killed, basketballs hitting people, and other such slapstick material. Crude humor involves repeated sounds of one kid vomiting, while various sorts of imitative behavior are present as are some thematic elements (including a boy's father no longer being in his life). Some alcohol and a related comment are briefly present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Spotting Wes and his unusual height, Larry complains, "This kid looks old enough to drink." We see wine on the table where Roy and Jeanie are seated. BLOOD/GORE We hear the sound of Ralph vomiting. We hear that when Ralph gets nervous, he vomits. We then hear him vomit onto the floor, with it being suggested that he gets some on Roy's shoes (not seen). A basketball accidentally hits Roy in the face, slightly bloodying his nose (and we see some blood on his hankie). We hear the sound of Ralph vomiting into a metal trashcan. Roy states, "I gotta go throw up" (but we don't hear or see anything). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Roy's self-centered and vain attitude grows, with him focusing more attention on his endorsement deals than his college team (even missing a game for a photo shoot). When he finally arrives at the middle school, he doesn't put much effort into coaching the team until his last endorsement is canceled. While mad at a call, Roy stabs a pen or other sharp object into a basketball (in a ref's hand), instantly deflating it. He then kicks a ball that strikes a team's live-bird mascot, killing it (played for laughs with feathers flying, but some viewers might not see or appreciate the humor). Jeanie tells Keith that the boy's father is no longer part of their lives (suggesting a deadbeat dad). In response, Keith somewhat sarcastically asks if she's so smart, how did she end up with his father in the first place. A kid trips another going up some stairs and another yells at the one who was tripped as a means of intimidation. Larry is a rival coach who's full of himself and his past coaching accomplishments. After Roy tells Keith that he's embarrassing him in a game (a bad attitude on the coach's part), Keith purposefully throws the ball (on offense) to the opponent (out of spite toward Roy). Big Mac has a near permanent scowl on her face and beats up or threatens to beat up others, while also getting too physical with players during various games. Roy tells Big Mac that she has five fouls in a given game and not to be afraid to use them. Telling him he can't tell anyone he's tutoring her, Big Mac grabs Wes by the shoulder (causing him some pain) and then pushes him in a school locker (and closes the door). A vehicle drives by Roy's broken down team bus and purposefully drives through a big mud puddle to splatter mud all over Roy and his team. Referring to Big Mac, Larry's son says that girls can't play basketball (in turn, she punches him in the face). Roy acts in an insulting and demeaning fashion toward a ref, but is then distracted from continuing his tirade. Jeanie has a bad attitude toward Roy (calling him on his answering machine) when she thinks he's abandoned his team to return to college ball, but apologizes when he shows up. Mad at a late call, Larry backhands a ref in the gut in disagreement. FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Your breath is humming" (or something like that), "Shut up," "You talking smack," "Time for me to bounce," "Psycho girlfriend magnet" (what a T-shirt reads), "Am I getting punked?" "Stick it where the sun don't not shine" (a purposeful double negative), "Dang," "Losers," "What the heck are you doing?" "What a dork," "We're about to get up in them," "This kid looks old enough to drink," "Put your feed bags on," "I gotta go throw up," "Smelters suck," "Turkey of the week," "Oh, sweet mother," "What in God's name just happened?" "Are you insane?" "Didn't give a damn," "Peeve me off," "My bad," "Are you out of your mind?" and "Damn the fame." Some of Roy's mugging and dancing around might be enticing for some kids to imitate. The same holds true for how Roy's brother appears (a reverend dressed like a flashy pimp with a gold tooth). A kid trips another going up some stairs and another yells at the one who was tripped as a means of intimidation. Big Mac looks and acts the part of a tough girl and beats up or pushes other kids around. Big Mac has a pierced nostril. Big Mac cracks her knuckles. Roy tries to get Wes to make an intimidating face for a game and so both grimace and growl during this practice session. Telling him he can't tell anyone he's tutoring her, Big Mac grabs Wes by the shoulder (causing him some pain) and then pushes him in a school locker (and closes the door). Roy puts Icy Hot on his players' armpits to make them keep their arms and hands up during a game. Goggles shoots soda water from a seltzer container straight into his mouth. Some middle school cheerleaders wear midriff-revealing outfits. Fink tries to impress a woman by asking, "What has two thumbs and makes a lot of money? This guy" (said as he points his thumbs back at himself). Wes points two fingers to his own eyes and then at another kid (in an "I've got my eyes on you" fashion). The kids pour Gatorade or something similar from a large container onto Roy and Jeanie after winning a game. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None that we noted, but a song had lyrics that we couldn't hear/understand, thus presenting the possibility of it potentially containing some sort of objectionable material. PROFANITY The "s" word is nearly said, while there are at least 4 damns and 1 use each of "My God" and "Swear to God." SEX/NUDITY Jeanie shows a little cleavage. Coach Newirth states that only one thing motivates 13-year-old boys and that's girls (and we see a few walk by, but nothing explicit is seen or acted out, although one wears a somewhat short skirt). Roy tries to coach his players about relationships and equates it to relationships at home. He then imitates a guy saying "C'mon" and a woman saying something along the lines of "You said you were going to take your time." He then realizes he's talking to kids and stops the innuendo. Big Mac shows a little cleavage. Jeanie shows a little cleavage. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jeanie tells Keith that the boy's father is no longer part of their lives (suggesting a deadbeat dad). In response, Keith somewhat sarcastically asks if she's so smart, how did she end up with his father in the first place. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT People who become so vain and self-centered that they lose touch with who they are and/or reality. Jeanie tells Keith that the boy's father is no longer part of their lives (suggesting a deadbeat dad). In response, Keith somewhat sarcastically asks if she's so smart, how did she end up with his father in the first place. Egotistical and/or temperamental coaches. Being on a losing sports team. That the only thing that motivates Roy to change and care about coaching the kids is having his last endorsement deal canceled. We hear that Big Mac has been in "juvi" (juvenile detention) before. Coach Newirth states that only one thing motivates 13-year-old boys and that's girls (and we see a few walk by, but nothing explicit is seen or acted out). The comment that teamwork beats out talent any day. Having a tutor to help with schoolwork. The comment that courage is well-concealed fear. The fact that Roy turns down his college reinstatement to stay with his middle-school team. VIOLENCE While mad at a call, Roy stabs a pen or other sharp object into a basketball (in a ref's hand), instantly deflating it. He then kicks a ball that strikes a team's live-bird mascot, killing it (played for laughs with feathers flying, but some viewers might not see or appreciate the humor). A kid trips another going up some stairs and another yells at the one who was tripped as a means of intimidation. A basketball hits Goggles on the head in the school hallway, while a door opens into Fuzzy, pushing his cupcake into his face (played as slapstick). A kid shoots a ball at the basket but his shot misses and we hear the sound of something breaking off camera. A boy tries to bounce a basketball between his legs but it bounces up and hits him in the crotch. A basketball accidentally hits Roy in the face, slightly bloodying his nose (and we see some on his hankie). There's some incidental physical contact during a game. We see Big Mac pushing and punching at some boys in the school hallway. Big Mac purposefully trips another player before a game. Big Mac purposefully knocks down another kid in a game. Telling him he can't tell anyone he's tutoring her, Big Mac grabs Wes by the shoulder (causing him some pain) and then pushes him in a school locker (and closes the door). After Larry's son says that girls can't play basketball, we see the boy's point of view of Big Mac punching him in the face (he later has an ice bag on his head). We hear the sound of Big Mac punching a guy off camera (played for laughs). Coach Newirth accidentally sews into his finger with a sewing machine (no blood and played for laughs). Mad at a late call, Larry backhands a ref in the gut in disagreement. Carrying a kid in celebration after thinking they've won a game, Larry carelessly tosses the kid aside (he lands hard on the floor) when he learns a foul has been called (played for laughs). Roy accidentally walks into a door that's opened in front of him. Reviewed June 20, 2005 / Posted July 1, 2005

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