McFarland, USA Review

McFarland, USA is an interesting Disney movie about cross-country running.   I didn't realize when I rented it that it stars Kevin Costner who plays a cross-country running coach in McFarland.  In the beginning Costner's character hits some hard times due to anger at his rude students, but then he packs his bags and moves to McFarland which was a very low income area.   At first the movie shows the struggle of his middle-class family to fit in with the neighborhood,  but eventually they do and grow to love the neighbors and the community around them.  Disney has a reputation for finding stories like this one that deliver a feel-good root for the team sense as you watch the story unfold.   This one sets itself apart in several ways however like:

1. This movie is about cross-country running.  I've never seen a move about this high school sport.  Sure there are track movies out there, but cross-country running stories are not done too much.

2. This movie portrays overcoming low income circumstances to triumph in life.  It was encouraging to see the boys on the team rally together despite being expected to work hard long hours in their father's business.  These boys didn't have it easy but that proved to be an advantage in some ways as they had to race. 

Overall, it was a very engaging movie that I enjoyed watching.  It did come off a little formulaic,  but it wasn't so much so that I found it boring to watch.  I also enjoyed the follow-up stories and seeing the actual grown guys in the end.  I thought that was a nice touch to the movie.  Two thumbs up on this one.