It’s hard not to view this kind of “underdog triumphs over adversity” sports film without comparing it to Rocky (1976), especially when it’s set in Philadelphia. Here an unknown Spanish street-player Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez) is brought to America by international scout Stanley Sugerman (Adam Sandler) to tryout for Philadelphia 76ers. Switch the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps for Manayunk Wall, a super steep hill, and you get the training plan. Peppered with real basketball talent, this has enough charm to keep even a “refuses to watch sport of any kind” person like me watching.
Darrin // Nightingale 