"Might I suggest you call them by their names."
Fact or fiction, there is something special and heroic about a sports drama. The perceived underdog, David v. Goliath mountain, is universally relatable, as are the conflicts involving resources, accessibility, and self-doubt. No matter the sport or our own athletic abilities, we yearn to be in that moment, feeling the endorphins as we conquer our goal and extinguish our inner demons.
Bobby Farrelly's Champions carries that feeling with added heart, soul, and honest inner growth.
Set in Iowa, Champions centers on Marcus Marokovich (Woody Harrelson), a hot-tempered but extremely skilled assistant coach of a local minor league basketball team. After an on-court altercation gets Marcus ejected, he leaves the stadium and heads to a bar. Several drinks later, he finds himself staring at flashing red and blue lights, an incident that lands him in a courtroom vying for his freedom. His future looks murky, but he is ordered to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities where he can work on his temper, patience, and hopefully better understand the meaning of a team.
Though a serious story, Farrelly beautifully balances the narrative with wit, satire, and humor. The characteristics merge to comprise an honest and authentic story propelled by an ensemble cast of talented persons. Outside of Harrelson, who is phenomenal, Kaitlin Olson stars as Alex, an unexpected love interest of Marcus' who, though abled, is dealing with issues surrounding family and commitment. Her brother, Kevin Iannucci's Johnny, is a member of the team, leading a group of unexpected scene-stealers who take full advantage of their platform, delivering funny, wholesome, and heartwarming performances that are both strong and inspiring.
While most of the team is glad to have a coach, Joshua Felder's Darius, the team's best player, refuses to participate. It is one of the many moments that Farrelly aborts the comedy in favor of a more serious, structured tone. The side story, interwoven into the larger account, gives the film its edge. Never shying away from uncomfortable conversations, Champions handles the tough subject matter with great care, forcing the story to take a strong beat and allowing the audience to understand the gravity of the situation.
As the film progresses and Marokovich evolves into a better human, he must face a series of difficult decisions that come with growth and change. These moments will have a lasting impact on both his personal and professional life, a reminder that even as things get better, we often find ourselves in a newly minted difficult position. Harrelson beautifully captures that emotion as Marokovich finds himself pulled between professional transition and personal maturity, with no clear-cut "right" answer to lean into.
It's a classic dilemma that, though unoriginal, adds to the film's ubiquitousness. And that is, in large part, why Champions works as well as it does. Though it offers little in the way of ingenuity, it does just enough to stir the right emotions, prompting a positive feeling as you hold your breath and watch intently as the ball slowly soars toward the basket, the buzzer blaring in the background. But, ultimately, win or lose, the audience has clearly benefited.
