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Movies & TV

Soccer Mom

Rating: NN


Soccer Mom (Anchor Bay, 2008) D: Gregory McClatchy, w/ Missi Pyle, Emily Osment. Rating: NN DVD package: N

I love Missi Pyle. Every movie I’ve seen her in gets funnier when she’s onscreen and sinks a bit when she leaves. Most recently, she lent her manic energy, barely suppressed rage and ability to instantly shift gears to the incestuous redneck in Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay. Big fun. I’ve been waiting for a Missi Pyle starring role that lets her really strut her stuff.

Sadly, this isn’t it. It’s an I Love Lucy idea trapped in an after-school special. Pyle plays a new widow who secretly impersonates an Italian soccer star to coach her unhappy daughter’s team.

In drag she’s hilarious, relying on a faltering swagger and an accent that perpetually threatens to give the game away. As loving mom, she’s okay. A few good moments aside, the rest of the movie offers weak versions of teen girl inspirational jock clichés.

In the forgettable making-of doc, Pyle talks about Lucille Ball as the greatest while director Gregory McClatchy says he had to tone her down. Bad idea. Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for Pyle’s breakout role.

EXTRAS Making-of doc, makeup doc. Widescreen. Spanish subtitles.

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