Review of White Men Can't Jump (1992) by Travis E — 20 Jul 2017
White Men Can't Jump has all the hallmarks of your typical, seen-it-all-before sports film - the kind where desperado underdogs tackle a tough tournament, fall out, make up, almost lose, then win.
The difference is that the obligatory tournament in White Men Can't Jump takes up less than ten minutes of the film's running time, as writer-director Ron Shelton is much more concerned with the physical and mental make-up of said desperadoes than he is in dressing up an old paint-by-numbers plot in early-90s basketball apparel.
His two main protagonists, a greasy gambling addict who can't say no to a good hustle (Woody Harrelson) and a fast-talking man-child with a wife and kids to feed (Wesley Snipes) are two sides of the same one pence coin - and the film is predominantly concerned with exploring the similarities between these two up-and-down down-and-outs despite their differences in terms of race.
This is still a sports comedy, and there's plenty of sports and plenty of comedy. But the film also has a lot to say about addiction, desperation, racism and the general dynamics of down-and-out-ism.
This review of White Men Can't Jump (1992) was written by Travis E on 20 Jul 2017.
White Men Can't Jump has generally received positive reviews.
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