Crooked Arrows

CROOKED ARROWS

Not even Superman can save this poorly acted and poorly written sports drama.

Wish I had face paint...Photo by Heather.

2012, Sports Drama, Rated PG-13

Distributed by Sports Studio

          This movie went totally under the radar. I had no idea it existed until it showed up at my local theater. It makes sense that it's so little known though. It's an independent sports drama about a Native American high school lacrosse team coached by an ex-player. That player is Joe "The Legend" Logan who blew the championship back in '98. He dropped his lacrosse stick and started building casinos on reservations to bring in money. When he finally decides to build on his own reservation, that of the Sunaquat tribe in New York, his father/chief gives him a Spirit Quest before he can grant permission to build. Logan must coach the terrible high school lacrosse team and restore pride to his people. A million sports drama and underdog story cliches follow.

          The first problem with the film is the poor script. The only thing original about it is the subject of lacrosse and the Native American angle. Everything else is cliche and uninspired. It's your standard underdog story that is thrown at the audience with no class or taste. It feels like a straight-to-DVD movie to be honest. The only decent actor in the picture is Brandon Routh, previously filling Superman's tights in Superman Returns, as Logan. He can't save the whole movie though. There are almost no good Native American actors in this film which is a shame. What's even worse is the script, though. Even the best actors in the world would seem lifeless delivering most of the lines in this film. Attempts at raunchy humor, romance, and drama fall totally flat. It ain't no Dances with Wolves.

          The most interesting and worthy part of the film is the lacrosse angle. No film yet has captured the sport so well. I don't think any film has even tried. The increasingly popular sport deserves more Hollywood exposure than this cheesy flick, but it serves well enough. The lacrosse scenes are actually quite impressive and intense. The sport is fast and hard-hitting and every scene showing teams battling it out captures those feelings with exuberance. There were many clever uses of slow motion during the lacrosse scenes that made the film worth a full viewing. I wanted to leave, though, during the scenes involving just dialogue.

          I can't condone a trip to the cinema to see this film. It is definitely not worth admission price. It may be worth a watch on Netflix instant watch or Redbox if you're curious as to how a film can impressively portray lacrosse. Lacrosse and Native American culture are rarely available in mainstream media, so it's nice to see it show up somewhere. I just wish it wasn't here: in this totally awful and cliche sports drama. Avoid it unless you love lacrosse and/or Native American culture.