fingerpaintfilms

"Just for Kicks" may not be the most consistent, but the film has some great moments. The twins, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, are adorable, and Bill Dawes is brilliant in the role of the enigmatic soccer coach. The film definitely picks up momentum after a slow start and had my two young sons in suspense and in stitches. In addition, I found myself laughing out loud a few times. It may be a bit too mature for the really young, but this "PG" rated film is actually a good-natured "G" family film in disguise.

This movie does not break any new ground -- but it does offer some great characters and some unbounded silliness. The writing is clever, the camera work is skilled, but the performances from the ensemble are what make the movie work. John Laroquette shines as always, the kids are adorable, and Bill Dawes as the archvillian across the street does some physical comedy on par with Jim Carrey. In particular, check out the single camera shot of him flipping headfirst into a bucket.

Evenhand has some great moments and an underlying current of humanity that can also make you smell the weathered, junk food laden interior of the Patrol car which the two lead actors spend most of the movie inside. Yes, there are some pacing problems in the first half-hour (which a company wanting to distribute it would probably fix up), but the performances of Bill Dawes and Bill Sage are subtle and extraordinary. Kudos to director Joseph Pierson for coralling two awesome, relatively unknown actors and giving the film a sure directorial hand.