Her Best Move

They don't make movies like this anymore. How many teen oriented films don't contain alcohol and drug use, cursing, and violence? Her Best Move didn't have any of that, and it was so much fun to watch. I found it to be nostalgic because I was 14 the year it came out. Honestly, I would go back to 2007 in a heartbeat! The fashion, music, TV shows. Everything was just so much better compared to now. And people weren't attached to their cell phones. Okay, I digress. Let's get back to the film...

California teen Sara Davis (Leah Pipes) is an aspiring professional soccer player. Her coach is also her dad (played by Scott Patterson). His obsession with soccer is making her mom incredibly unhappy. In fact, he's living in his office. So her parents are on the verge of divorce. She's also juggling academics, work, dance, a relationship with the boy who takes pictures for the school yearbook, and friendship issues. A movie about a teenage girl with a busy schedule might not sound interesting, but it was so engaging. It was nice to see a sports film that wasn't male-centered. Plus it taught a lesson that you don't have to be a teenager to understand. Sara finds herself in a difficult situation when she realizes that soccer has consumed her life, and she starts questioning if she's trying to make the National team for her dad, or if she's doing it for herself. It's a movie that's relatable to anyone regardless of their age. Even some adults get stuck in a cycle of fulfilling other people's expectations, instead of following their own. We can all learn from Her Best Move. Such an awesome film. I can watch it over and over again.

Sara Davis (Leah Pipes), a 15-year-old female soccer prodigy, has a chance to join the U.S. National Soccer Team. Her daily life is extremely hectic, as she finds a balance between high school, romance, sports, and parental pressure while realizing her own priorities. Sara, coached by her father Gil (Scott Patterson), sacrifices her interest in dance, photography, and her social life to concentrate on her sport. With the encouragement of her best friend Tutti (Lalaine), Sara begins a relationship with Josh (Drew Bell), the solitary photographer on the school newspaper. As she takes control of her life, Sara faces the challenge of discovering what she really wants, so that she can make the best move of her life.

My title says it all, except the acting is good, the people are generally likable, and the whole premise is encouraging and inspiriting.

I'll repeat: This world, currently beset by scummy politicians, and even by murderous tyrants who cause death and destruction for reasons no one seems to understand (and I certainly don't), needs more movies like this.

People whom viewers will care about, a story that can entice even us non-athletes, and high production values -- you really need to see the camera work for the soccer games! -- make this relatively little film one to watch. And re-watch.

I saw it on BYU TV and I thank the folks there for presenting it.

Like I said before, this week is finals weeks, so I will not have time to watch long movies at all this week…so I decided to watch a kids movie that lasted a little over an hour. Her Best Move was a story of a young girl who pushes herself to be the best soccer player…mainly because of her father. It was an interesting movie…but poorly acted. I wouldn't recommend this movie, mainly because it really wasn't worth watching it in the first place. You could tell it was a made for TV movie…or a straight to DVD movie. I'm not going to get a good selection of movies this week because of the time restriction…but we'll have to see.

For daily movie reviews visit: htt;//kimsmoak.com/

15-year-old Sara Davis has a chance to make the national soccer team, something even Mia Hamm didn't do at that age. She already plays on a U-19 team (and focuses on making herself look good rather than on the team), as well as working out with a team coached by her father Gil.

The U-19 team is on its way to the California state championship; coach Laurie was a player on one of Gil's college teams. Gil pushes Sara hard and insists she make soccer her no. 1 priority, even though Sara isn't all that enthusiastic and could have other interests. and one drawback to making the national team--they practice in Florida, 3000 miles from home.

Sara has no social life outside of soccer, though she does have a quirky best friend Tutti who has weird taste in clothes. The boys don't think she is pretty, but she is. She just doesn't try hard to show it. There is one boy Josh who is an old-school photographer for the school paper and yearbook--he develops photographs in a dark room. He has been spending a lot of time taking Sara's picture, and there is a dance coming up. Speaking of dancing, Sara's dance teacher thinks Sara should audition for a school production. But how will Sara find the time? In addition to everything else she works at an ice cream place with the annoying Doogie.

But somehow Sara tries to make it all work. Meanwhile, her father never seems to be at home anymore. It is her mother Julia who is actually taking care of her, and Julia feels Sara shouldn't push so hard if soccer isn't what she wants. Gil disagrees since one doesn't get to the Olympics without a total commitment.

There is nothing that special here. It's an enjoyable movie and Sara is easy to like. The romantic stuff is pleasant most of the time, but like a WB/CW teen drama this movie has its depressing moments with equally depressing music. And along with the comedy, there is some drama resulting from jealousy and rumors.

On the subject of music, for someone like me there is bland synthesized background music, but most of the so-called music is designed for the young people, and often quite loud. One positive is the fact so much of the music seems to be from when I was in high school, though it is still loud.

I know Scott Patterson mainly as the likable curmudgeon from "Gilmore Girls". Here, there's not much to like about him at first. He is driven and lacks personality. But that changes later.

One relationship I would like to have seen more of is that of Regina and her father. Regina also has the potential to go far as a soccer player, if Sara will stop trying to be the star. Regina's Papá cares more about her brothers than her, and she wishes he would pay more attention to her. But he is a loving father and I can see this from only a few lines.

Lalaine and Daryl Sabara stand out from the rest of the cast, but for different reasons. Tutti is merely quirky but likable, while Doogie is just plain annoying, but enjoyable to watch at the same time.

This is a family film with nothing offensive. It's nothing groundbreaking but still a pleasant experience.