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.

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.

You have seen Kevin Costner in this type of role before, like Swing Vote or Field of Dreams. Yet he always seems to do it so well. He makes golf seem exciting and brings a good character to it, and plays for a rival's woman in the process. The story and golf scenes are good, and I liked watching Costner in them. It has a good supporting cast too. You can't go wrong with Costner!

** 1/2 out of ****

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

Visit my site at http://moviemusereviews.blogspot.com

While it may never be as famous as its forerunner Bull Durham (which also starred Costner and was also written and directed by Shelton) Tin Cup has legs of its own to stand on. With a brilliant soundtrack, excellent support from Russo, Johnson, Marin and others (including two Costners) and the writing and direction of Ron Shelton, this is a winner - an incredibly funny and gripping comedy with a smashing bit of irresistible bravado thrown in for good measure. Where Bull Durham didn't have a climax per se, Tin Cup does - and what a climax that is. And although you may in retrospect see the outcome as predictable, odds are you won't guess this by a mile working into it the first time: the suspense really works too.

For what it's worth, the riddle the movie starts on has been traced as far back as The Cosby Show.

A definite keeper.