Tin Cup

TIN CUP (1996) *** Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Linda Hart, Dennis Burkley. Charming romantic comedy with Costner in top form as down-on-his-luck golf pro/loser Roy McAvoy out to woo brainy psychotherapist Russo (her best role and acting yet) by turning his life around and making an attempt at getting a shot at golf's US Open with only himself and rival Johnson in the way. Funny and surprisingly smart screenplay by writer director Ron Shelton and Marin stealing every scene as Costner's sidekick/mentor. A real winner for anyone whoever considered themselves a loser.

"Tin Cup" is a unique experience, in that after viewing this movie, you won't automatically compare it to any other film ... there isn't another one like it.

It wrote in another review that all sports films contains many clichés. Well, I have to contradict myself in describing this film about golf. It starts many clichés, and then breaks them in half, sometimes literally! LOL Funny, charming, romantic, and defiant, Tin Cup gives you a bit of everything ... even a realistic ending but with a crumb thrown to the future at the same time.

And the phrase "Tin Cup" made its way into sports talk for an event where a golfer REALLY screws up on a hole, especially if from stubbornness.

Underdog sports movies walk a fine line with clichés; romantic comedies walk a fine line with clichés. "Tin Cup" is both these things and walks the finest of the fine lines, and though it leans toward the cliché, it never completely loses its balance. Its likable swagger behind star Kevin Costner -- a similar swagger to that of "Bull Durham," also directed by Ron Shelton -- is what makes it one of the more memorable fault-filled sports movies.

Like the previous (and slightly better) Costner-Shelton collaboration of "Durham," this film is a romantic sports comedy about a trashy/washed-up athlete who wastes a lot of talent and somehow manages to attract sexual attention.

Costner stars as West Texan Roy McAvoy, referred to sometimes as 'Tin Cup,' a talented college golfer who somehow ended up a golf pro at a downtrodden driving range with his amigo Romeo (Cheech Marin) while his college teammate David Simms (Don Johnson) went on to be a star. Roy is a betting man who goes with his gut, ignores reason and uses golf metaphors to make sense of life. When an anal retentive psychiatrist named Molly (Rene Russo) shows up at his range for lessons, Roy is smitten, only to find she's with Simms. Of course the only way to win her over is to try and make the U.S. Open, right?

Costner and Russo have forced character chemistry. There's no reason for either of them to be interested in each other, save that Roy wants a challenge compared to the white trash women he's interested in. There's certainly no reason for Molly to leave her tournament- winning boyfriend for a sleazeball. And you know it's true when the dialogue directly addresses why they fell for the other like it's justification or something.

The machismo fueling Roy and his buddies in the movie, constantly betting each other and insulting the other when he lays up and plays it safe is childish, but it brings the film its humor and keeps it from being a straight through underdog movie. Its more interested in its characters than building up plot suspense, which is a good thing, if only the characters behaved in realistic ways.

"Tin Cup" is a giant golf metaphor for life, about how taking risks -- no matter how many times you fail -- is always worth it. Shelton's film is gutsy in the same way, finding different ways of telling a sports story that will make it feel different. It goes about it in an amateur way, but it's the bravado that it will be remembered for. Shelton's films have this miraculous tendency to only let their best parts stick with you. They're the kinds of movies that make for great channel-surfing finds on TV. That's really what "Tin Cup" is.

~Steven C

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If somebody watches Tin Cup and does not find this movie a "must-see", it might be either because you don't know golf, or because you take life too easy. This film is nothing but irresistible. It combines those tiny-little-moments that we golfers must face every time we are in the golf course (yes, we may not be facing the US Open title, but golf gives us a chance to know ourselves every time we hit the ball: Do I play safe or do I take chances? Am I a winner, or am I a loser? Do I have nerves, or do I simply breakdown?). Tin Cup goes insight all of that, and it shows it to us, in such a simple form through the eyes and life of Roy McAvoy and his buddies, that at the end you find yourself with nothing but the urge to rent it again. Forget for a while about the romance and the girl, if so you want, but don't deny that the songs, the views, and the dialogue are superb. See it as a great sport movie, with a clear lesson to all of us: In life as in Golf, it is you who make that final call. A good call means success; a bad one, well I guess you know where the rest goes.

If you're in the mood for a light comedy with romantic overtones with some delightful performances by some very good actors (including the great Cheech Marin - who is absolutely winning here), then don't hesitate to watch this on a rainy night with your lover or spouse.

This is a feel-good movie and has enough of a story line - one that rings true for many PGA golfer wannabes by the way - to provide a joy ride that's fun and worthwhile.

One of the most memorable scenes, in fact, was torn from the pages of the life of former pro golfer Gary McCord (who's now a fine golf tournament announcer - and who makes a cameo in this movie by the way). You'll know it when you get there. It's the scene where you'll say, "I can't believe he's doing that!" But believe it. It actually happened. And Gary did it (look it up)!

Because of the romance, this is almost a chick flick - were it not for the golf underpinnings. So it'll please both sexes (and possibly lead to romance afterward, for putting you in the mood - if that's what you desire, as some do from romantic comedies after all).

Plus, to me, it's Cheech's best and most endearing real-acting movie role after his halcyon days with Tommy Chong. I say "real-acting" movie role because he's not going for the laughs here. He's funny - but he's also a real person (the kind you'd want as your best friend), and he plays it beautifully.