Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
Calum Hutton
It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
vchimpanzee
Mr. Butler is a former pro soccer player whose partying ways landed him in trouble with the law. He must serve as a handyman at a dilapidated boys' home during his probation, and if gets fired or quits he goes to prison.The boys who live at the home don't like Mr. Butler at first, but that changes eventually. Mr. Butler tries really hard to do a good job. Unfortunately, the house is falling apart and needs a lot of work.Cookie is the nutty cook who loves to gamble on horses. Mr. Butler, despite having bet on soccer (one of the reasons for his legal troubles), gives him betting advice.Karen, who runs the place, wants the boys to do something meaningful so she persuades them to start a soccer team. They do, reluctantly, and the team gets called Home Team. Home Team is terrible, and so far no one realizes exactly why Mr. Butler was a celebrity. He doesn't seem interested in coaching. At first. But when he gets his hands on a soccer ball ...There are obstacles to overcome. That first team the Home Team played will play them again--doesn't this always happen in these movies? But will Home Team win this time?Steve Guttenberg's antics didn't work for me at first--or for the boys--but they grew on me later.When Mr. Butler asks Karen about her accent, she claims to be from France. I didn't notice an accent, and half the time I don't think there was one. Sophie Lorain, of course, is from Quebec.The actors playing the kids re good enough. I don't recall anyone standing out.It's pretty standard material for this type movie. Occasionally the boys talk about the bad experiences in their lives, which raises the quality somewhat.Michel Perron looks and talks like Eric Stonestreet of "Modern Family", but it's not him. I was going to say Stonestreet really showed range as an actor.The one standout performer is Carl Alacchi as the funeral director. He eventually agrees to sponsor Home Team. He is really quirky.This is an okay movie. It is formula, of course, and not a particularly good example.
scottmalecki
It really was horrible. Thank god I couldn't sleep and it was on. It is actually amazing that they have the kid's place to live saved by a generic fat character that placed a bet "IN VEGAS" on a kids soccer team. I was waiting for the movie to go on with Steven Guttenberg's character (Gambling addict) saying that he would raise money the correct way. I'm no bible thumper, but this was amazing. Nice "lesson taught". ?????? Movie sucked by the way. Characters were ordinary, and generic, and the acting was horrible. They, managed to make Steve Guttenberg into a great actor. The kids were all generic with the short kid, the fat kid, and mean coach of the other team who was hell bent on ruining the HOME TEAM's hopes and dreams. I don't know. It was certainly a Mighty Ducks ripoff, but I am also shocked that MIGHTY DUCKS was able to spawn sequels.
JV_Meanstreak
Some SPOILERS...Guttenberg produces as oscar worthy performence in this modern sports classic. Forget Memento, forget Usual suspects don't even contemplate the 6th sense Home team has probably the most shocking twis in a movie home team beat the bad guys...Guttenberg's complex satirie shining through has he wins the hearts and minds of his team...the rags to riches storyline as a team of no-hopers obatian the skills of the Brazilian nation team purely by running round traffic cones, however this doesn't distract you from the more complex disturbing sub-plots. Why this film had been discarded in a skip on the outskirts of Wolverhampton is beyond me...
dragoonjay
This movie was a waste of the celluloid it was printed on. It is a disastrous scene, much like a particularly gruesome train wreck.Watching this is like trying to explain the meaning of life. The main plot point is that the character played by Steve Guttenberg is a party animal who's not supposed to gamble, because that would violate his parole. The kids he befriends refuse to play with him as coach for a while, because he gambles. BUT... a few minutes later, after they've won the championship, a large sum of money saves their shelter. And where did they get the money? GAMBLING!!! Add this to the creepy scenes at the funeral home (why exactly are there BEDROOMS in a funeral home?) and the useless peripheral character
