A Fun movie for Boys
Artist & Author | Near Mt. Baker, WA | 06/15/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Admittedly, this is very much a kids movie, a preteen movie. However, it is fun and entertaining, and contains many little wholesome lesson in life. For those who aren't Catholic, the Salesian order of priests, started by Fr. Don Bosco over a hundred years ago, has as one of their main mission the Christian education and training of boys. This great order was involved in the making of this movie, so it comes as no surprise that the priest in this movie is a loving and wise priest. (It is refreshing to see a priest in a recent movie who isn't violating his vows or molesting children.)
In one sense, this is just another underdog misfits overcomes the super team movie. But the lessons are in how it is done. First, Mario finds acceptance in the group of so-called losers. They have their adventures related to the 'Boys Klub' until Fr. Sal challenges them to enter the local basketball tournament. They then have to learn real teamwork. First, they have to raise the $1,000 needed to enter the tournament. They try to raise it by questionable means at first, but they are not allowed to keep the money they raised. After a sad day trying to wash cars, their janitor-coach takes them to a used car dealer where they do raise the money washing the cars there. When the money is stolen, they chase the thief down to get it back; but when they find out that his children and wife are hungry, they give him the money because it is more important to help the poor than to be in a basketball tournament.
The whole movie is full of little lessons in character like this that traditonal values parents can point out to their children as they watch the film."