Good intentions collide with self-indulgence in "MVP," a lazy, sentimental drama full of clichés and stereotypes of activist, charitable foundation founder, Green Beret veteran and actor Nate Boyer. Boyer directed, co-wrote and stars in this story of a homeless Marine who meets a star wide receiver just as the footballer's career is over. They collide, collide, and finally connect through the commonalities of their experiences.
Although the script takes pains to make one character dismiss any "ball fields and battlefields" analogy, the masculine bond here stems from the two worlds sharing "comradeship, purpose, and pride."
Director: Nate Boyer
Writers: Nate Boyer, Geraint Jones
Stars: Mo McRae, Nate Boyer, Dina Shihabi
This reviewer must first confess a personal bias: I am a fan of sports movies where animals take the team to new heights with amazing heroics. From Gus the field-goal-kicking mule to the basketball-playing golden retriever in Air Bud, there's something charming (and certainly formulaic) about warring teams brought together by gifted creatures. Such is the case with MVP: Most Valuable Primate, a good-natured movie about a plucky monkey with a mischievous slap.
MVP begins with Jack, an exceptionally bright chimpanzee, performing his morning ritual, one that occurs in homes across America. He takes a shower. He dresses. He brushes his teeth. He serves a bowl of cereal and makes coffee. Jack's house is a glass-enclosed "house" used by the kindly Dr. Kendall for scientific research and in his college classes. Life is rosy for the sign language expert chimpanzee. But when Dr. Kendall dies of a sudden heart attack, Jack might end up being sold to another university for less-than-pleasant experiments with hepatitis vaccines. A friendly handler sneaks Jack onto a train bound for a nature reserve where Jack would be reunited with his ape parents.
Jack misses his stop, continues north and ends up in cold British Columbia, where he befriends a deaf girl named Tara and her older brother, Steve, who plays hockey. The brothers are also struggling to adjust to the new surroundings. Newly moved to snowy Canada from California, Tara has yet to be accepted by her peers, who make fun of her difficulty talking about her. Steve faces a cold reception from the guys on his Junior B hockey team, a team that lacks the will to win and boasts so many wacky losers that you almost expect the coach to be Walter Matthau or Emilio Estevez. When the kids teach Jack to ice skate and he demonstrates remarkable puck-handling skills, it's only a matter of time before he finds his way into a game and turns opposing defenses into a monkey. Meanwhile, stone-hearted professor Dr. Peabody and an academic lackey are on the trail of his prized chimpanzee.
Positive Elements: Steve and Tara share a loving brother/sister relationship. His parents are strong, supportive, and portrayed with old-fashioned affection. Disabled children will identify with Tara's social challenges and rejoice when she rises above them, in part due to her sweet disposition. She is the first to connect with Jack by inviting him out of the cold. Various characters stick out their necks to protect the monkey and reunite him with his family. Jack, who happily climbs the town's Christmas tree to plant a star on top, becomes a local hero for his athleticism and nobility. He even helps teach sign language to schoolchildren. Steve encourages his teammates to play with pride, which they eventually do, and works with individuals to improve his game.
MVP is based on the true story of the formation of Merging Vets & Players, a nonprofit organization founded by Boyer and Fox Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer that empowers and connects combat veterans and former professional athletes, giving them a new team to help them with the transition to civilian life. life, promote personal development and show them that they are never alone. The film takes place on the streets of Hollywood and centers on the growing friendship between a recently retired NFL player (McRae) and a homeless veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (Boyer). The film reveals the common challenges faced by military veterans and professional athletes adjusting to a new life once out of uniform. With their "glory days" behind them, the two men come together in search of true purpose and identity.
Watch MVP 2022 Movie Trailer
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