Trophy Kids

Parents... horrible. I'm sure they are not all like the ones in this movie, but wow. It just angered me to watch how these parents behaved toward their kids and people around them. Amari (little golfer) had the worst, with her over bearing father cursing & swearing... calling her names that NO parent should EVER call their little daughter.

For the two basketball kids, wow, they truly are talented with this ball skills, but the physical limitations were pretty obvious, especially against those Division I ready kids.

At the end of the day, the parents had no idea what these kids wanted to do.. One of the parents actually saying that she's doing everything to help her kids achieve their dream... which frankly was her dream.

One of the most disturbing films I've ever seen about our sports-centric culture. I think even VInce Lombardi would say there is no victory in the tragic American families portrayed in this documentary. The filmmakers do a superb job of capturing candid moments of very twisted adults pretending to do what's best for their children. One blames it on God's will, and the rest are simply out for a scholarship or a Tiger Woods payday. The bottom line is not one of them is a competent parent, nor are they raising individuals who will be very beneficial to society. The day these poor kids are put on the bench, or miss a put, or drop a pass they will lose their purpose in life, according to their parents. No kidding. You have to see this film, and realize these middle class adults naively allowed their misguided and myopic behavior to be fully documented, to appreciate how out of touch these parents are with reality.

The documentary starts off with a look at the training some of the kids go through. It is intense stuff, and from their training they look like they could play their respective sport really well. However, I was surprised to see initially, that they weren't doing that well come game time. Also, it didn't help that their parents were on the side yelling at them.

It is very disconcerting to know that children are being raised like this, because I am sure it happens. This documentary does at times feel like a reality show, since the people being filmed obviously know they are being filmed, and sometimes get prompts to answer questions. But, I did like that we could hear the questions being asked, as it did add some 'spontaneity' to their answers.

As well, the editing and sequence of the scenes are well done. I do feel like we see a bit more of the two basketball athletes (which is fine by me), but we see more of their games and not much after game talk. I do wonder where the other half of the kids' parents/ family are. We get glimpses of them on screen from time to time, but they don't give any comment.

For the most part, the cinematography is good, with close ups and long shots. However, there are instances where it feels more like a found film, with the camera handled by a rookie, or teens on the run. Some scenes would start with an extreme close up of the parent, and zoom out, with the camera shaking a bit as well. While that does add to the documentary aspect of it, perhaps it is an indication that this is a low budget film.

Overall, a terrifying watch, with parents thinking they always know the best. Some of their behavior can definitely be contested as emotional abuse to their children.

Seriously, it was getting uncomfortable to watch Golf Dad pouting all over the course after every single shot his daughter hit. that guy is a complete scumbag. Can't believe some of the things he calls his daughter.. "wait until you get in the car." You've gotta think their is some physical abuse going on at home too.. he even implied in that one scene when he's getting up from the golf cart that he wishes it was the 70s again where it was 'acceptable' to beat up your kids. Seriously felt like this guy is just banking on his daughter becoming a pro one day and he can mooch off her winnings the rest of his life. Hope that scumbag gets what he deserves.

And what was with the basketball dads? How delusional could they be thinking their scrawny little barely 6 feet tall white kids have any chance of playing D1 basketball? Was hilarious to me when that Cal Poly all black team just came in and ran them out of the gym. It's one thing to be a nut case sports dad when your kid actually has a special talent, but these white kids are simply average players who have no chance at D1 basketball, let alone becoming a pro one day.

Tennis Mom was creepy, though I found it interesting how she really didn't even pay much attention when her kids were playing tennis. Too busy babbling about Jesus to the director, numerous times where she all of a sudden says "oh that was match point!" like she was not paying attention to the score at all.

Football dad was insane, that scene in the car with the kids mother driving didn't even seem real. His thought process is so warped it felt fake that he actually believes the stuff he says.

Coach Meier was awesome though, loved everything he said. Spot on.

Would recommend watching but prepare to be disgusted and angry at the end.

'Trophy kids' was an up to snuff documentary reviewing the life of children and adolescents whose lives are being influenced by sport and their over-the-top-sport-parents. This is an unusual film. You wont get many like this. This movie is actually going into the lives of these kids and being told from their perspective, as well as a lot of it being told from the parents perspective. This documentary is unusual , not only because its talking about an unusual topic , but because it is actually going into the lives of the kids in great detail.

It can also be a rather blue movie, since the parents are going over-the-top and sometimes being unfair with their kid. Its a good documentary , because its showing the audience more or less everything they want to know about their lives and not missing out anything. It is made really well , going from one kids life to another, and at the end finishing it off with a touching ending. There is a big message in this documentary(that is why it is a good movie to watch). When you watch it, you will have to figure out that message for yourself.