Crooked Arrows

A fun family movie. Based on sports (lacrosse) and a struggle by native Amicans to be competitive at their traditional sport against wealthy mainstream competition. A warm and happy experience. Hard to find this kind of quality in today's entertainment world.

A limited understanding of lacrosse would add to the enjoyment as the struggle to compete against superior competition would become clearer. But not necessary.

The movie gives a positive image of the native Americans way of life in a way that is rarely seen. It purveys inspiration in facing their challenges without the usual blame. The whole package makes it an unusual, entertaining and fun movie to watch.

Joe Logan (Brandon Routh) is a local boy who's trying to make his mark. He wants to negotiate a land deal with a casino owner. In order to make it happen, he must get the agreement from the tribal council. In return he is forced to coach the local Native high school lacrosse team.

Brandon Routh has never been one of my favorite actors. Ever since Superman, I have seen nothing but stiff acting from him. In a way, he's perfect for Superman, but he makes a terrible Clark Kent. He's definitely no Christopher Reeve. I'm willing to accept Brandon's limitation here. It's a workable cliché filled family/sports movie. Chelsea Ricketts plays his plucky sister. While he's the coach, she wants to play. Like many sports movie, the final game is too long and too predictable. But it has enough feel good moments to make this work.

Clunky acting and an unbelievably predictable plot

Of course this is a formula. It's different from the other movies about bad sports teams miraculously getting better because it also includes lessons about Native American culture. And it's about lacrosse, which is one of the less familiar sports. I live next door to a college where lacrosse is a big deal, and yet even I don't know much because I don't even care about sports. Still, this movie appeared to do a good job of showing how the game is played.

And then there are the lessons about Native American culture. Once the movie gets past the obligatory "Injun" jokes, some of them in the casino, the fictional Sunaquot tribe is treated with respect and I assume the customs shown or described are accurate.

The standout performer here is Chelsea Ricketts. As the half-Sunaquot daughter of the former coach (once Joe takes over) who also acts as assistant coach and is a student as well, she has so much enthusiasm and determination and can bark orders like any man. If anyone can inspire this team to victory, she can.

Crystal Allen does a good job in a role typical of movies like this,. She is pretty, intelligent and determined and will not let her ex renew his relationship with her until earns it.

I have never seen Brandon Routh as Superman but I want to. Mostly I know him from what is called the Arrowverse, a group of CW network TV series that have crossover events, where he is more of a Clark Kent type than a hero. Here, he is neither of those and one would never guess this is a man who will be a respected actor and play Superman. Joe just doesn't seem to care, and even when he finally does, Routh's performance is merely adequate. There is good writing, but Routh only manages to challenge himself when the situation calls for it, and you wonder what inspired this team.

Dennis Ambriz is the answer. The tribal elder is an old man but he is tough and won't accept anything but excellence from the students he is teaching about their heritage. Like so many actors playing Native Americans, he is dignified but sort of lacks personality.

Kakaionstha Betty Deer is Joe's grandmother and spiritual leader. She's traditional but also cool, and also comic relief.

The team eventually attracts the attention of ESPN and the man who calls the game does quite a professional job. This is in stark contrast to the radio announcer for most of the games, who isn't very good and doesn't seem to care.

I've seen better performances from actors playing athletes in movies like this. No one else approaches the level of Nadie. Tyler Hill as Jimmy comes close but never really makes us notice him, other than as maybe comic relief.

There are different types of coaches. I don't know his name from looking at the credits but Coventry's coach believes in winning at all costs and if you can't do it he'll find someone who can and forget the rules.. He doesn't have this problem when his team first appears, but you can bet he will later. Isn't that what usually happens?

And Mr. Geyer is also your typical villain.

I guess loud rock music is necessary in a movie about male high school athletes. I could have done without it. One of the less annoying songs, "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, gets a Native American flute added to it, which is nice. There is some music with a Native American sound or at least influence. I suppose I like the more traditional music.

Talk about global warming! The time of year is not mentioned except that the deadline for starting work on the casino is the day after Memorial Day. But this is New York state and it is mentioned that the events at the start of the movie took place several months earlier. And yet in every scene outdoors but one Nadie and the other girls are not wearing much. But they do look good.

Is this family friendly? The sound went out a lot and I don't know what words had to be removed. Even after that, there were a couple of scenes I wouldn't recommend to kids. But it's not too bad. I the locker room, one guy apparently wasn't covered except by what was put there by the censors, and Nadie and Grandma should have knocked first. Yes, we do get to laugh from time to time.

Stay around for the credits. I'm not sure what was taking place but Coventry's #15, who is white, does a rap and there is a video involving cast members, who seem to be having a good time and are no longer enemies. Later, it just appears the cast members are having a good time. I was assuming these were real people whose lives were depicted, but a group of man each saying "I'm a Crooked Arrow" were just fans. The credits do say this is fiction.

I think it's worth seeing, even though I've seen better.

"Crooked Arrows" is one of those movies that even if you know almost nothing about the sport of Lacrosse you get involved in the game so much so that you might just find yourself yelling at the screen and that is part of "The Formula" that works so very well for movies about sports.

BUT

If you start watching this movie thinking that "The Formula" is all there is to it, get prepared for a BIG Wake-up call.

This movie has managed to twist Native culture, Traditions, History and even Language all together so expertly that you are not only being entertained but being educated at the same time.

Saying that this movie is an emotional roller coaster would be akin to saying that Tecumseh was a great warrior. Both are major understatements.

I'm not going to give anything away here because I really believe that potential viewers should just watch and ENJOY this movie from start to finish without knowing more than what is in the synopsis.

Probably the biggest compliment I can pay the movie is by saying, "I'm Dave Furlotte and I'm a Crooked Arrow."