Catering to the widespread enthusiasm for sports there have been over the years many sports-themed movies, some of which have been of sufficient merit to appeal even to the non-sports fans – of which, I admit to being one.
Despite this, I confess to having thoroughly enjoyed Moneyball, A League of Their Own, and Bend It Like Beckham among other sport-based films, while regarding Raging Bull as one of the truly great films of all time.
However, I must also confess to being no fan of many sports-themed films which tend ultimately to be a familiar riff on the story of the underdog achieving success. Indeed, I have to admit to being absolutely no fan of Rocky, which I found to be tiresomely formulaic and even annoying in its rip-off of bits of other films, down to and including the pigeons on the roof stolen from On the Waterfront.
Now we have a new film, Hustle, a Netflix movie, which, though it has a basketball theme, clearly owes a lot to Rocky. Not only is it set in Philadelphia (though with reliance on a different flight of stairs), but essentially it is also yet another film about the underdog making good.
Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Hustle is likely to prove to be a box-office winner.
The film tells the story of basketball scout Stanley Sugerman, played winningly by Adam Sandler, who is proving to be an actor of impressive depth and range.
When in Spain Sugerman discovers a street-player, Bo Cruz, who is clearly a talented basketball player of great potential. In this role, real-life basketball star Juancho Hernangomez acquits himself well, both on and off the court. Sugerman is so impressed with the potential of Cruz that he takes him to America and attempts to get him recruited to the NBA.
What follows is so predictable that my basketball enthusiastic friends who viewed the film with me were able to foretell with almost total accuracy each development in the plot. Both scout and player have baggage from the past; both coach and player clearly have dreams but are in danger of not fulfilling them. And, of course, all of this is accompanied by suitably stirring, pulsating music. There is never any doubt as to the happy outcome.
Despite the formulaic plot, however, Hustle does have its rewards. In a clear nod to political correctness, Sugerman is shown as being happily married, with a charming daughter, to a black woman. In this role, Queen Latifah brings a lovely warmth to the family scenes.
There are numerous scenes of basketball games, well shot and well played – though I must further confess that I had to rely on my fellow viewers to identify the multitude of basketball stars who appear.
Of course, there is something very appealing about a feel-good movie. Perhaps this is the real merit of Hustle. The outstanding performance of Sadler, the brilliantly filmed games, and the positive portrait of family ties are meritorious. In fact, despite some use of objectionable language, this is a film for the whole family to enjoy together.
At a time when gloom and doom seem to prevail, a film which demands little more of us than that we sit back, relax, and let it happen, is most welcome.
