Review of The Longshots (2008) by Steve N — 13 Apr 2013

The Longshots is a predictable but enjoyable film about a young girl who just wants to blend in. She's a bit awkward and hides behind her books and is pretty much a loner. She would rather be left alone and seems pretty depressed about her father abandoning her.

Her mother Claire works hard long hours and enlists her daughters fathers brother to look after Jasmine while she works. He refuses at first, but eventually agrees. He's not happy about the situation and she's not all that happy about the arrangement either.

Curtis finds Jasmine to be rude, distant, and a bit weird since she ignores him behind her books. She doesn't care for him all that much either. She rags on him about his clothes and tells him a few times that he smells.

Eventually they find a common interest, Football. Over the sport the two become very close and start to care a lot about each other. I am always more interested in the relationships between the characters.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between the uncle and niece build up from being cold and distant to loving like a father and daughter relationship. Of course there was football in the middle of all that.

Curtis helps Jasmine come out her shell by teaching her how to play football and by encouraging her to put herself out there. In turn she helped him peel off all the layers he had been hiding behind as well and become more than the smelly man who drinks beer out of a bag.

It's a cute charming film. One the family could enjoy.