Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Solid sports tale has positive messages, feel-good themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
From the Rough
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Catana Starks (Taraji P. Henson) is coaching the women's swim team at Tennessee State University when the new athletic director (Henry Simmons) wants to start a men's golf program there. Coach Starks sees the opportunity to get back to the sport she loves best and lands the job as the new program's coach. On a shoestring budget and at first unable even to offer scholarships, Starks manages to assemble a group of international golfing misfits. With her job on the line, she'll have to mold them not only into a group of winners but also into a winning team.
Is It Any Good?
FROM THE ROUGH is a feel-good sports story about a lovable bunch of misfits and the coach who helps them triumph against the odds. There's a lot to admire about Coach Starks, and the movie's heart is in the right place with lots of positive role models, especially for African Americans, and lots of positive you-can-do-it messages. The cast is solid, and the characters are colorful and relatable, but no one really shines. The story's laid out in fairly broad strokes that lack subtlety; drama and suspense also are in short supply as it moves toward the inevitable conclusion. But kids should find it's an enjoyable and inspirational ride, even if you already know exactly where it ends up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about people's reactions to Coach Starks. Why was it hard for some people to believe she was the coach of the men's team?
Kendrick Paulsen, the athletic director, called Coach Starks smug and arrogant. Do you agree? How do you think he would have described a male coach who did the same things?
Which sports do you enjoy? Does this movie make golf seem more interesting to you? Do you think you'd like to try it?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 24, 2011
- On DVD or streaming: September 2, 2014
- Cast: Taraji P. Henson , Tom Felton , Michael Clarke Duncan
- Director: Pierre Bagley
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
- Studios: From the Rough Productions , Royal Street Productions , Gyre Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: Language and thematic elements
- Last updated: July 22, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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