Susan Granger’s review of “Rebound” (20th Century-Fox)
There is nothing either original or memorable about this formulaic kids-sports movie starring comedian Martin Lawrence as an arrogant college coach who’s redeemed by some young misfits. After one too many on-court screaming tantrums and accidentally killing the beloved team mascot, hot-shot Ray McCormick (that’s Lawrence) is banned from the Ohio basketball league until he can successfully coach somewhere else. It immediately becomes rapidly obvious to both Ray and his agent (Breckin Meyer) that his only viable job opportunity lies with his own alma mater, the inept Mount Vernon Junior High School team that’s been coached by a local teacher (Horatio Sanz) – much to the chagrin of the cynical, overburdened principal (Megan Mullally). The team is filled with stereotypes. There’s the top player (Oren Williams) with, predictably, a lovely single mom (Wendy Raquel Robinson) who teaches at the school. There’s the hapless tall boy who’s uncoordinated, the tough girl-player and a kid who constantly vomits before games. And let’s not forget the overly-aggressive rival coach (Patrick Warburton). As the reluctant, once-selfish Ray turns these scruffy, appealing losers into winners, he learns his own valuable lessons – like how rewarding it is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Screenwriters Jon Lucas & Scott Moore borrow every plot element from other, better movies and director Steve Carr relies on repetitive slapstick humor, punctuated by hip-hop music. The only mild surprise is when good-natured Lawrence doubles as slick Preacher Don, who delivers a pre-game “pep talk” to the kids. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Rebound” is a kid-friendly but clichŽ-filled 3. Why not wait for the upcoming remake of “The Bad News Bears”?
