Review of Crooked Arrows (2012) by Thomas W — 11 Nov 2012

Crooked Arrows is one of those films you feel bad for because you cannot give it a good review to help its chances as it is NOT that good of a movie ... even though it tries really hard to be. Joe Logan (Brandon Routh - Superman Returns, Scott Pilgrim vs the World) is a mixed-blood Native American who is trying to modernize the reservation.

Joe has already built a new school and the casino on the land is getting a face-lift; but all his father really wants of his son is for him to prove his worth to the tribe by coaching the high school lacrosse team.

Although Joe played in the past, his glory days are behind him and this becomes a standard, not-so-surprising fish-out-of-water tale until Joe's mastery of the sport (surprise!) kicks back in and it then becomes an athletic underdog story we have all seen countless times as the impoverished Crooked Arrows eventually battle it out with an arrogant and bullyish, top-of-the-line team who think they are going to win the state championship.

While Routh is extremely personable, laid-back and like-able here, he cannot do anything to personally save the sad, little movie. The acting is stiff and rehearsed and the dialogue is howl-worthy (awful!!).

Many of the scenes feel forced; but when something is as predictable as Crooked Arrows it doesn't really matter. The movie does try in earnest; but it IS one of those movies with NO surprises. One could read the synopsis now and know how this movie ends without watching a single scene.