McFarland USA can be summed up in one word - formulaic. It can be, but maybe it shouldn't be. Because while the storyline is your typical 'little guy overcomes obstacles in order to achieve greatness', there are other elements to the film that make it worth a watch.
The story revolves around a failed football coach who finds work in dreary, end-of-the-line McFarland, California. Coach White is a fish out of water in the heavily hispanic school where he teaches. There are cultural misunderstandings between the new teacher and other staff and students that are predictable as the coach, once again, gets removed from the football team before deciding to start a cross country team. The kids on the new team are from farm families - 'pickers' - who toil in the fields before and after school (as well as on weekends) in order to help their families.
Basically, as the characters and coach spend more time working and training together, they gain a mutual respect. Cultural and economic divisions melt away, and they begin to rely on each other. Trust, family, community, and pride grow throughout the film.
Since McFarland USA is a Disney product, real examinations of poverty, migrant worker exploitation, racism, alcoholism, etc . . are all but left out of the film. Problems exist, but are quickly passed over in favor of scenes that will continue to strike an emotional chord with the audience.
Still, despite the film's shortcomings (and there are many more), McFarland USA has some strong points. The film treats hispanics as real people, not caricatures. The foods, holidays, fundraising events, automotive details, and dress are all presented as things to be admired. The characters have dignity, real feelings and thoughts, and their own traditions to uphold. The kids on the team realize the tension between needing to do things to advance their lives (like school and cross country), while simultaneously having to help their families in the fields in order to survive. It is that tension that ultimately allows them to become stronger and compete well.
I hope that the film will at least raise awareness of the humanity of the people working as pickers in the fields. Most of us simply drive by on highways without giving them a passing thought. The film does show that the people in those fields have hopes, dreams, and families like the rest of us. They are 'picking' due to economic necessity, and should be afforded dignity and respect.
The running scenes in the film, to be honest, weren't that great. I have a feeling that the real McFarland runners on the team in 1987 looked a bit more . . . um . . . like runners, than did some of the actors in the movie. And the actors in the film who actually did look like real runners were not the best runners on the movie team. It struck me as strange. The races shown simply didn't ring true. Still, though, since it is a Hollywood film, I checked a bit of my skepticism at the door, and, after a while, stopped mentally arguing against the hard-to-believe racing scenes.
I was pleasantly surprised when one of the races took place running up the hills to the Griffith Park Observatory in LA. The route they ran is the main running route that I run each time I'm in the area. It is actually one of my favorite running routes in the US. If you ever find yourself in LA, start at the base of Griffith Park (find a snack shack called Trails and use it as your start and finish point - great food and coffee) and follow the curving roads 2 miles uphill to the Observatory. Then turn around and run 2 miles downhill. Enjoy the stunning views along the way. At times you'll feel as if you are in the countryside.
OK - back to the film. Predictable storyline. Formulaic. Running scenes not as well done as they could've been. . . But still, I laughed. I cried. And ultimately, I really liked this flawed film. I liked the story, and its earnest belief that we can do better, and that we can all get along. There is a very moving montage during the playing of the national anthem before a meet. I bet there was not a dry eye in the theater, including mine. I also am glad that there is a movie that chronicles the story of how running elevated the team, their school, and their community. Runners should like this movie. It is not as good as some, and better than others in its genre. If you can check a bit of disbelief, you will come away with a good feeling and some thoughts to ponder.
Here's and IMDB link if you want to watch the trailer - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2097298/?ref_=hm_cht_t3
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