THE BIG GREEN

"THE BIG GREEN"
(1995) (Steve Guttenberg, Olivia D'Abo) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Mild	None	Mild	Minor	*Minor

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	None	Minor	None	Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
None	Minor	Minor	Minor	Minor

QUICK TAKE:: An exchange teacher from England boosts the hopes and dreams of a dreary, depressed town and its equally downtrodden students through the game of soccer.

PLOT:: Anna Montgomery (OLIVIA D'ABO) is an exchange teacher from England who arrives in the depressed town of Elma, Texas. There she finds not only a town in the throes of economic depression, but its inhabitants in similar throws of self depression. Her arrival alone sparks a little excitement in the town air, but her students are still unwillingly to learn. They believe there's no reason to since they'll still be stuck in the backwoods town with no prospects of a rosy future. Anna decides to get the kids interested in something and she picks her native game of soccer. The kids are reluctant at first as is Deputy Tom Palmer (STEVE GUTTENBERG), a native of Elma. Things perk up when a new student, Juan Morales (ANTHONY ESQUIVEL) shows some impressive soccer skills. Soon the students, such as Kate Douglass (JESSIE ROBERTSON), the daughter of an unemployed alcoholic father, want to play and later to win as they learn the importance of teamwork, commitment and pride. Eventually the "Big Green," as they've come to be known, become quite good and must play the undefeated regional champions in a big playoff game.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Smaller kids, yes. It is the typical story of a bunch of self branded losers and misfits who come together and learn important lessons about teamwork and commitment.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: OLIVIA D'ABO plays the always happy teacher/coach who strives to improve the kids' morale. She's a great role model.
STEVE GUTTENBERG plays the local deputy who contributes his time and energies to helping the kids win. Also a good role model.
JESSIE ROBERTSON plays the daughter of an acholic father (who eventually comes around and supports her). Through playing on the team, she learns that she can overcome her own personal obstacles. Another good role model.; STEVE GUTTENBERG plays the local deputy who contributes his time and energies to helping the kids win. Also a good role model.
JESSIE ROBERTSON plays the daughter of an acholic father (who eventually comes around and supports her). Through playing on the team, she learns that she can overcome her own personal obstacles. Another good role model.; JESSIE ROBERTSON plays the daughter of an acholic father (who eventually comes around and supports her). Through playing on the team, she learns that she can overcome her own personal obstacles. Another good role model.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Kate's father is an alcoholic (or a budding one) and is often seen drinking beer and once is seen passed out at the bar.
The coach of an opposing team orders a double scotch at a bar.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Early on, the students don't respect themselves or Anna, their new teacher.
Some of the students make fun of two twins who have asthma.
The students throw a basketball at Palmer's police car and often call him "Deputy Dawg."
The students aren't nice to Juan, the new student.
Palmer calls the kids "midgets" when they get on his nerves and once says he hates the opposing coach.
Opposing players make fun of the local kids ("They're the nothings from nowhere").
Kate's father doesn't care about how she's doing on the team. When she tells him she scored her first goal, he blandly asks "Did you win?" instead of congratulating her. (He eventually does support her at the end).
Kate's father turns in Juan and his mother, who's an illegal alien, because he doesn't like foreigners.

FRIGHTENING/TENSE SCENES: The goalie occasionally has "scary" visions when the opponents move in to shoot for a goal. Sometimes he sees them as pirates, or knights or even the walking dead, but always they are just the opposing kids dressed up as such, and only the smallest of kids will find this scary.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Several of the goalie's visions (see above) carry swords (the knights, the ninjas, etc...), but all of them are only carried and not used. Likewise the coach of the opposing team, the Knights, carries a mock sword with him during the games.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Dodo brains," "Who farted?" "Shut up," "Jerk," "Turkey," and "Kick butt."
One of the kids likes to burp a lot and says he can burp the ABC's and he gets the other kids to burp along with him.
Palmer lets some of the kids drive his police car through the open fields where they zig and zag all over the place. Although he's in the car with them at all times, this might give kids the impression that it's okay for them to drive (perhaps without a parent).

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): Just some quick stuff during the goalie's visions (see "Frightening/Tense Scenes").

PROFANITY: 2 damns, 1 hell, and 2 uses of "Oh God," or "My God" as exclamations.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Kate lives with her dad because her mother left three years ago (presumably because of his drinking problem) and they are or are getting a divorce.
Just a few scenes between Kate and her non-caring, alcoholic father, and between Juan and his mother who doesn't want him to get too involved with the other kids.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: How anybody can overcome almost any obstacle they have.
Why Juan and his mother fled after she was turned in as an illegal alien.

VIOLENCE: Students throw a basketball at Palmer's police car.
Kate throws a soccer ball that hits Juan in the back as she tries to get his attention.

Reviewed June 8, 1996

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