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"TIN CUP"
(1996) (Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Moderate None Mild None None
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild None None Minor Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Moderate Minor None Minor Minor


QUICK TAKE:
Romantic Comedy: A down and out golf player gets his second chance at fame and fortune as he tries to qualify for the U.S. Open to impress a woman he's fallen for.
PLOT:
Roy McAvoy (KEVIN COSTNER) is a down and out driving range instructor in Salome, Texas, a small back desert town where entertainment is found in betting on which insect will get fried first in the bug zapper. Roy labels himself as a person who's never finished a thing in his life and he's known for losing his head and going against wisdom, both of which cost him a promising golf career. Now he just teaches golf lessons with buddy Romeo Posar (CHEECH MARIN). One day Dr. Molly Griswold (RENE RUSSO) arrives wanting to take lessons. The problem is, she's dating golf pro David Simms (DON JOHNSON), a former friend of Roy's who's made it to the big time. Roy gets quite infatuated with Molly and decides to qualify for and play in the U.S. Open to impress her. Molly, being a psychologist, agrees to be Roy's "head shrink" for his comeback and from then on Roy struggles to make it to the big tournament, compete with Simms, and win the heart of Molly.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Younger kids won't, as none of the stars are big draws to kids and the game of golf is even less of a draw. Older teenagers, however, might want to see this.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For language and brief nudity.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • KEVIN COSTNER plays the down and out stubborn golfer who once was, and could again be a great player. His major vices are drinking and swearing.
  • RENE RUSSO plays the town psychologist who's only vice is swearing and sleeping with Roy.
  • CHEECH MARIN plays the "swing man" who helps Roy with the mechanics of golf.
  • DON JOHNSON plays the conceited golf pro who "doesn't have time" to give a young fan an autograph.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    OUR TAKE: 7.5 out of 10
    This is an offbeat and enjoyable film. With solid performances by Costner and Russo as well as great supporting roles by Marin and Johnson, this film rarely misses its swing. While it feels just a bit long (over two hours) and could have been trimmed a bit, it holds one's attention throughout and brings a smile to many faces. And it's non-Hollywood ending is a welcome sight to these sore eyes that have seen far too many predictable endings. It's a fun love story filled with interesting characters and we give this one a 7.5 out of 10.
    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    Other than the profanity, one under the covers sex scene between Costner and Russo, and some quick shots of bare breasts, there's not much to object to. There's a moderate amount of drinking, but almost no violence (none in the "people getting beat up or hurt" category) and nearly no imitative behavior. There's a competitive spirit between Costner and Johnson but nothing that turns out awful. Read through the listings first before deciding if this movie's okay for your kids.

    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Roy is often seen drinking beer or whiskey, as are his friends, including Romeo.
  • Romeo tells Roy that he should get drunk because he "plays better wasted" so that night he's seen feeding shots of liquor to Roy.
  • BLOOD/ GORE
  • None.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • Roy is "ducking" the IRS and wants Molly to pay him in cash.
  • Another player calls a pink golf ball a "fag ball."
  • Roy refers to Molly as a "chick."
  • Roy continues to pursue Molly even though she already has a boyfriend and she repeatedly tells him she's not interested (even though deep down she really is).
  • Roy tells Romeo to take a couple of the new golf balls he's practicing with at the U.S. Open (to keep for themselves).
  • When asked for an autograph by a young boy, Simms snaps at him and his family stating that he's working and doesn't have time for that.
  • Simms and Roy disrespect each other in a somewhat courteous manner.
  • The TV crew at the U.S. Open makes fun of Roy and his blue collar background.
  • FRIGHTENING/TENSE SCENES
  • None.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • None.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Shut up," "Pissed off," and "Bastard."
  • Roy spits several times while hung over.
  • On a bet, Roy hits a golf ball (from inside) out through an open door, aiming for a pelican -- and he hits it.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • None.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • A song heard twice has the word "crap" in it several times.
  • PROFANITY
  • 19 "f" words, 38 "s" words, 38 hells, 14 "ass" words, 6 craps, 5 damns, 1 slang term for both male and female genitals (the "d" and "p" words), and 12 uses of "Jesus," "Christ," or "Jesus Christ," 8 uses of "My God," "Oh God," or "By God," 3 uses each of "For Christ's sake" and "God," 2 uses each of "Swear to God" and "God Almighty," and 1 use of "For God's sake" as exclamations.
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Molly tells Roy, "You might try being saddled some time. You might like the smell of the leather...the sting of the whip."
  • Roy's ex-girlfriend is a stripper and he and Romeo go to see her at a strip joint (to talk, and not to watch her perform). We do, however, see several bare breasts and butt cheeks from women in thong bottoms.
  • Roy tells Molly (about women) that he's usually thinking about how to get into their pants, but with her he's trying to get into her heart.
  • Molly asks "Why do men always need to measure their d*cks?" (in reference to Roy and Simms challenging each other.)
  • Molly tells Roy that at this particular moment she senses that his inner child is trying to come out. He then asks her, "Does my inner child need a spanking?"
  • Roy and Molly have sex under the covers and although no nudity is seen, some sexual movement is and there's some moaning and groaning.
  • Roy says that golf and sex are the only two things you don't have to be good at to enjoy.
  • SMOKING
  • A man in a bar is seen with a cigar.
  • Simms smokes a cigarette.
  • Romeo is seen smoking a cigarette.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • None.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Playing golf (as a metaphor for life) conservatively, or going for the gusto.
  • VIOLENCE
  • Romeo breaks Roy's three wood over his knee and then does the same to another club to keep Roy from taking too great a risk while playing a round of golf. Roy gets mad and then one by one breaks nearly all of his other clubs.
  • On a bet, Roy hits a golf ball out from the inside of a bar at a pelican sitting on a wood pole. The pelican is hit and flies away (but seems to be relatively unhurt).



  • Reviewed August 18, 1996

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