Released: April 30, 2005 (Miami)
Director: Sherry Horman
*****
Twenty minutes into this German film (Manner wie wir, for those keeping score), we know exactly how it is going to end. Really, we've seen enough sports underdog movies to know this rag tag bunch of gays is going to beat the much better (and much straighter) soccer team. We also know Ecki, who blew a goal in the championship game, will be the savior.
If that's considered a spoiler, sue me. Even a German sports film follows the conventions of the genre. Really, for the 98-ish minutes Guys and Balls runs, there aren't any surprises: we know Ecki is going to put together his gay team; we know his father is going to come around; we know this team-this family-is going to rally around each other when they need it the most; and we know Ecki will finally become comfortable in his own skin.
Much like Rocky, this soccer film doesn't give the audience a crash course on the sport. Instead, we're given the basics: passing, teamwork, shooting the ball. Everything else the group learns can be applied to their everyday lives. Unfortunately, we don't get to know much about those lives. The most we know is three of the players are in a relationship together and one of their group has a son. The others are merely stock background players in this light drama.
All that being said, this is an unoffensive, root for the underdog story. It's hard to look down on a film that has it's heart in the right place, especially considering what could have been put on the screen. Guys and Balls is content to be amusement for its running time, nothing more and certainly nothing less. It tries to hit upon big themes of acceptance and love and understanding, but it's really a revenge story: Ecki's revenge on his former team for kicking him off. Not the best life lesson to teach, though certainly understandable.