McFarland, USA – A Touching Struggle Based on a True Story

When I was in Los Angeles for the Big Hero 6 premiere last November, I was able to watch an upcoming film called McFarland, USA. At that time, the movie wasn’t slated to be released for another few months and we even had to keep the title of the movie secret until the first trailers come out publicly. No more secrecy! McFarland, USA will be out in theaters this Friday (February 20, 2015) and I can finally tell you all about it!

To start, here’s the official storyline for McFarland, USA.

Based on the 1987 true story, “McFarland, USA” follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school, with whom they ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well.

McFarland, USA Movie Review

McFarland, USA seems to tell this very relatable story from a different angle than other movies in this genre. It’s not about a gorgeous star-studded cast, jaw-dropping special effects, fantastical storybook endings, or even breaking down racial barriers. It’s about believing in someone and teaching them to believe in themselves.

It might be hard for some to get excited about a sports movie, especially one that features cross country running. However, after a slow start, I found myself enjoying the movie and rooting for the kids’ success. The story is set in the Central Valley of California. It was pretty interesting to recognize some locations shown and city names mentioned in the movie. The actors do a great job in their characters. The setting is somewhat subdued but I feel that it’s fitting for the time period and the overall feel of the McFarland, USA. Overall, this is a nice motivational movie the family can see together. The laid back pace of the movie and the leaning on heavy dialogue might be better suited for older kids though.

McFarland, USA will be in theaters February 20th, 2015!

• Official Site: http://movies.disney.com/mcfarland-usa
• Like Big Hero 6 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcfarlandusa
• Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter: @DisneyPictures

I was invited on an all-expense paid media trip as a guest of Disney and ABC in honor of the Big Hero 6 movie and mentioned sitcom series. All opinions are my own.

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