By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * * * * )
"Billy Elliott in football boots" they've called it, and there are a few more comparisons you can probably think up for this feelgood movie about Jimmy (Lewis McKenzie), a teenage introvert who dreams of becoming a professional soccer player.
He's in the right
place to do it: he lives in Manchester with his mother Donna (Gina McKee), recently separated from his father Harry (Ray Winstone). But Jimmy is the only City fan in a school full of United supporters.
That makes Jimmy an easy target for the playground bully, Gordon Burley (Bobby Power), star of the First XI. His dad (John Henshaw) is the team's sponsor and is convinced talent scouts will pick up his son.
Jimmy would love to make the side but when he plays in front of an audience, he loses confidence and coordination. There's little help from his gym teacher, Eric Wirral (Robert Carlyle).
One of those twists of fate that happen in movies brings Jimmy into the team but Gordon and his cronies don't want him and throw his boots into a conveniently passing rubbish truck. Jimmy accepts an old pair of boots from a mystery woman (Jane Lapotaire), who claims they belonged to legendary City striker Robbie Brewer (when did City have a legendary striker, other than Denis Law?).
Yes, Jimmy and his supposedly magic boots revitalise the team and help them to reach the final at City's Maine Road stadium. Yes, it's a predictable rite-of-passage/sports movie. You know that Jimmy will come through in the dying seconds and that Donna and Harry will get back together.
Even so, it hits the right notes, even if it doesn't convince me that I've spent 40-plus years supporting the wrong club.
Running time: 105 mins
Rental: Today
