United We Fall

Modern soccer (football to the rest of the world) players (and their wives/partners) - many of whom are often overpaid, overly privileged and live in a bubble - are ripe for lampooning but strangely, nearly all screen adaptations have proven to be a dud. 'United We Fall' began on the right foot before budget limitations rears its ugly head and ends up being talky and annoying after half an hour or so. It's unfortunate what with the initial focus seems to involve Manchester United - arguably the world most popular, best supported and widely loathed football club - but the flick avoids any broad humorous reference to MU. In a related matter and in my opinion, the best soccer mockumentary I've seen is 'Mike Bassett: England Manager'.

Being an American woman I never got into Football (Soccer), so I watched this only because of Jack Donnelly. To my surprise I found this to be totally enjoyable, despite the scathing reviews! Maybe the reviewers didn't realize that this was totally unscripted and improvised. I also enjoyed learning more about football and Googled a lot of the terms they referred to. All of the characters are wonderfully flawed and not the sharpest knives in the drawer, but, somehow, likeable in their own way. To my pleasure Mr. Donnelly did not disappoint! Olly Hunter (OH) his vain, hedonistic, crude, self-centered, womanizing (not to mention, sort of adorable), football icon was 180 degrees apposite of his portrayal of Jason in Atlantis. His improvisational talents (as seen in "Chuckle Dusters"), proves his versatility. This is really not a review of Jack Donnelly - well, maybe just a little bit - but watch and enjoy just to prove that critics are just paid to criticize!

If you like dry mockumentary humor, give it a try. The acting and comic timing is very spot on. All very funny. I expect the low ratings are due to Football fans not finding it funny to mock their sport. If you have ever thought pro-ballers ridiculous, you will enjoy.