Kevin Iannucci, Kaitlin Olson, James Day Keith, and Woody Harrelson in ‘Champions’ (Photo Credit: Shauna Townley / Focus Features)
There have been many inspirational basketball films, including Hoosiers, Hoop Dreams, and Above the Rim. Add to that list Champions starring Woody Harrelson as Marcus, a minor-league basketball coach in De Moines, Iowa, who has just been fired for pushing head coach Phil Perretti (Ernie Hudson) for not listening to him about strategy during a game.
To make matters worse, Marcus ends up slamming into a police car on his way home and is ordered by the court to perform 90 days of community service.
The judge notices his unique talents and orders him to coach a basketball team of young players with intellectual disabilities. Wanting to stay out of jail, Marcus reluctantly agrees.
To say he’s unimpressed with his players and their non-existent hoop skills would be a gross understatement. “It...
There have been many inspirational basketball films, including Hoosiers, Hoop Dreams, and Above the Rim. Add to that list Champions starring Woody Harrelson as Marcus, a minor-league basketball coach in De Moines, Iowa, who has just been fired for pushing head coach Phil Perretti (Ernie Hudson) for not listening to him about strategy during a game.
To make matters worse, Marcus ends up slamming into a police car on his way home and is ordered by the court to perform 90 days of community service.
The judge notices his unique talents and orders him to coach a basketball team of young players with intellectual disabilities. Wanting to stay out of jail, Marcus reluctantly agrees.
To say he’s unimpressed with his players and their non-existent hoop skills would be a gross understatement. “It...
- 3/10/2023
- by Kevin Finnerty
- Showbiz Junkies
Bobby Farelly’s been out of the feature game for almost ten years. After a lucrative 20-year career writing, directing, and producing together, brothers Bobby and Peter Farrelly split cinematic ways in 2014. They kept working together in TV, but where Bobby took a break, Peter doubled down, debuting a solo career with Green Book and amassing Oscars and jeers alike. Now it’s Bobby’s turn, and unfortunately he is not amassing Oscars.
Champions opens on a spiraling Marcus Marakovich (Woody Harrelson)––local hothead drunk and soon-to-be-canned assistant coach of the NBA G-league Iowa Stallions––in the final seconds of a nailbiter. A brash, sickeningly self-assured disagreement on strategy with the head coach (Ernie Hudson) quickly turns into a physical altercation that loses Marcus his job, leads him to a DUI, and lands him in court. In place of a harsher sentence the judge graciously offers Markus the chance to...
Champions opens on a spiraling Marcus Marakovich (Woody Harrelson)––local hothead drunk and soon-to-be-canned assistant coach of the NBA G-league Iowa Stallions––in the final seconds of a nailbiter. A brash, sickeningly self-assured disagreement on strategy with the head coach (Ernie Hudson) quickly turns into a physical altercation that loses Marcus his job, leads him to a DUI, and lands him in court. In place of a harsher sentence the judge graciously offers Markus the chance to...
- 3/10/2023
- by Luke Hicks
- The Film Stage
One day, Hollywood will finally realise that marginalised people deserve to be at the centre of their own stories. Until then, we’ve got Champions – the latest film in which a bigot is patiently taught not to be a bigot by the very targets of his ignorance, while we’re all expected to stand up and applaud his bravery. It’s a sports comedy, directed by Bobby Farrelly, in which Woody Harrelson’s disgraced basketball coach Marcus is charged with community service after a drunk driving incident. For the next 90 days, he’ll head up a local team of intellectually disabled adults, with an eye to helping them land a spot at the Special Olympics.
With his brother Peter, Farrelly spent the 1990s and early 2000s making occasionally funny, largely offensive comedies like There’s Something About Mary (1998) and Me, Myself & Irene (2000). Champions, Bobby’s first solo project, exists at...
With his brother Peter, Farrelly spent the 1990s and early 2000s making occasionally funny, largely offensive comedies like There’s Something About Mary (1998) and Me, Myself & Irene (2000). Champions, Bobby’s first solo project, exists at...
- 3/9/2023
- by Clarisse Loughrey
- The Independent - Film
Champions Review — Champions (2023) Film Review, a movie directed by Bobby Farrelly, written by Mark Rizzo, Javier Fesser and David Marques and starring Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Matt Cook, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin, Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: Champions (2023): Woody Harrelson is Fun to Watch in Bobby Farrelly’s Winning Basketball Comedy...
Continue reading: Film Review: Champions (2023): Woody Harrelson is Fun to Watch in Bobby Farrelly’s Winning Basketball Comedy...
- 3/7/2023
- by Thomas Duffy
- Film-Book
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. An irascible, down-on-his-luck coach is reluctantly put in charge of a ragtag team of misfits who can barely play the game. Although he can hardly disguise his initial disgust, the players’ enthusiastic attitudes and general lovability soften him up until he becomes not just their coach but also their most ardent cheerleader. In the process, he becomes a better person.
That’s the Bad News Bears-style template for the latest cinematic variation on the subject, starring Woody Harrelson in a role he was seemingly born to play. You don’t need to have seen the 2018 Spanish hit comedy Campeones, which won multiple Goya Awards including Best Film, to think that its American remake, Champions, feels overly familiar. But that doesn’t make this sure-to-be crowd-pleaser any less winning, especially with the endlessly likable Harrelson at its center.
In this case, the...
That’s the Bad News Bears-style template for the latest cinematic variation on the subject, starring Woody Harrelson in a role he was seemingly born to play. You don’t need to have seen the 2018 Spanish hit comedy Campeones, which won multiple Goya Awards including Best Film, to think that its American remake, Champions, feels overly familiar. But that doesn’t make this sure-to-be crowd-pleaser any less winning, especially with the endlessly likable Harrelson at its center.
In this case, the...
- 3/7/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Woody Harrelson steps onto the court once again in the heartfelt sports comedy “Champions.” Directed by Bobby Farrelly, the remake of the 2018 Spanish film “Campeones” sees Harrelson as Marcus, a former minor-league basketball coach who leads a team of intellectually disabled players called the Friends.
“It’s really hard to make an authentically funny and emotionally vulnerable film, and I thought they did such a wonderful job,” Kaitlin Olson, who plays Alex in the movie, told Variety Monday night at the New York premiere of “Champions.” “I met all the Friends and they’re such an incredible cast. They all showed up ready to play, and we just had the most amazing time.”
After watching hundreds of auditions during an open casting call across the U.S. and Canada, the production team found the ideal Friends: Kevin Iannucci, Joshua Felder, Madison Tevlin, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair,...
“It’s really hard to make an authentically funny and emotionally vulnerable film, and I thought they did such a wonderful job,” Kaitlin Olson, who plays Alex in the movie, told Variety Monday night at the New York premiere of “Champions.” “I met all the Friends and they’re such an incredible cast. They all showed up ready to play, and we just had the most amazing time.”
After watching hundreds of auditions during an open casting call across the U.S. and Canada, the production team found the ideal Friends: Kevin Iannucci, Joshua Felder, Madison Tevlin, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair,...
- 3/1/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Champions Trailer — Bobby Farrelly‘s Champions (2023) movie trailer has been released by Focus Features. The Champions trailer stars Woody Harrelson, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin, Matt Cook, Kaitlin Olson, Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, and Matthew Von Der Ahe. Crew Mark Rizzo wrote the screenplay for Champions. “Produced by Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer, [...]
Continue reading: Champions (2023) Movie Trailer: Coach Woody Harrelson is court-ordered to Mentor a Unique Team of Players...
Continue reading: Champions (2023) Movie Trailer: Coach Woody Harrelson is court-ordered to Mentor a Unique Team of Players...
- 12/6/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Focus Features is already training for March Madness with the studio’s Champions trailer. Designed to make you laugh, open your eyes, and warm your heart, Champions stars Woody Harrelson as a former minor league basketball coach. After a series of missteps, the court orders Harrelson’s Marcus to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, the team can go further than they ever imagined.
Bobby Farrelly directs Champions from a screenplay by Mark Rizzo. Joining Harrelson for the inspirational sports feature are Ernie Hudson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin, and Matt Cook, with Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Ianucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens, and more.
Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer, and Jeremy Plager produce, with Woody Harrelson, Brad Kessell, Alexander Jooss, Álvaro Longoria, Javier Fesser, and Luis Manso executive producing.
In the Champions trailer,...
Bobby Farrelly directs Champions from a screenplay by Mark Rizzo. Joining Harrelson for the inspirational sports feature are Ernie Hudson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin, and Matt Cook, with Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Ianucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens, and more.
Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer, and Jeremy Plager produce, with Woody Harrelson, Brad Kessell, Alexander Jooss, Álvaro Longoria, Javier Fesser, and Luis Manso executive producing.
In the Champions trailer,...
- 12/5/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
"You don't have to turn them into the Lakers. They just need to feel like a team." Hey, another cheesy feel good movie for everyone to enjoy! Focus Features has revealed an official trailer for an indie comedy called Champions, an English-language US remake of the Spanish comedy also called Champions (from 2018). A former minor-league basketball coach receives a court order to take over a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Despite his doubts, he soon realizes that together they can go further than ever imagined. This sounds like the plot of Mighty Ducks, but with an extra twist with his young players. Woody Harrelson stars in this as Coach Marcus, along with Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin, Matt Cook, Kaitlin Olson, Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, and Matthew Von Der Ahe. This looks like something fun and uplifting, though also seems easy to forget as soon as it's over.
- 12/5/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Ernie Hudson is the final addition to the cast of Champions, the recently-wrapped Special Olympics film that Bobby Farrelly directed for Focus Features and Gold Circle Entertainment.
He’ll star alongside the previously announced Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin and Matt Cook. Actors with intellectual disabilities rounding out the cast to ensure authenticity in the storytelling include Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens and Champ Pederson.
Champions is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film Campeones, which Universal Pictures International released in 2018. It centers on a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is forced to coach a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service.
Mark Rizzo wrote the script. Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer and Jeremy Plager produced,...
He’ll star alongside the previously announced Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin and Matt Cook. Actors with intellectual disabilities rounding out the cast to ensure authenticity in the storytelling include Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens and Champ Pederson.
Champions is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film Campeones, which Universal Pictures International released in 2018. It centers on a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is forced to coach a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service.
Mark Rizzo wrote the script. Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer and Jeremy Plager produced,...
- 2/2/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Focus Features and Gold Circle have partnered on Bobby Farrelly’s next feature “Champions,” both companies announced on Monday. Production of the film recently wrapped.
“Champions” is centered around a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is sentenced to community service and forced to coach a Special Olympics team. The film is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film “Campeones” from 2018, which was released by Universal Pictures International.
The film stars Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin and Matt Cook. Also of note, the film is rounded out by a cast of more than 10 actors with intellectual disabilities who authentically tell the story, including Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens, and Champ Pederson.
“Champions” was directed by Farrelly and written by Mark Rizzo. The film’s producers are Paul Brooks,...
“Champions” is centered around a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is sentenced to community service and forced to coach a Special Olympics team. The film is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film “Campeones” from 2018, which was released by Universal Pictures International.
The film stars Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin and Matt Cook. Also of note, the film is rounded out by a cast of more than 10 actors with intellectual disabilities who authentically tell the story, including Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens, and Champ Pederson.
“Champions” was directed by Farrelly and written by Mark Rizzo. The film’s producers are Paul Brooks,...
- 1/31/2022
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Woody Harrelson, Emmy nominee Kaitlin Olson, Grammy nominee Cheech Marin and Matt Cook will lead Champions, a recently-wrapped film that Bobby Farrelly directed for Focus Features and Gold Circle Entertainment.
Champions is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film Campeones, which Universal Pictures International released in 2018. It centers on a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is forced to coach a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service. Actors with intellectual disabilities rounding out the cast to ensure authenticity in the storytelling include Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens and Champ Pederson.
Champions is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film Campeones, which Universal Pictures International released in 2018. It centers on a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is forced to coach a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service. Actors with intellectual disabilities rounding out the cast to ensure authenticity in the storytelling include Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens and Champ Pederson.
- 1/31/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
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