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Everybody's All-American (1988)

Rate: 6
Viewed: 1/05, 1/09

EvA
1/09: Everybody's All-American scores well for sentimentality but is a poorly done picture overall.

First of all, what exactly is the supposed message of the film? Don't be a football player? Find another occupation that's worthier? Do a better job of planning out the future?

Not only is Everybody's All-American a football picture, but it is also more than that. To sustain his livelihood, Gavin Grey has to grind it out by playing pro football while his wife gives up her life of a beauty pageant winner by serving as the hostess and caretaker of their estate.

The best part is Dennis Quaid's performance, and he has great football scenes. Then, the film is more haunting as time goes on with his character becoming older and retired until the bonfire celebration is shown which is twenty-five years prior. Again, I'm trying to understand the purpose of the film. What's the meaning of Cake's presence? Is he merely a witness, or is he trying to prove that he's superior to his cousin for making the right decisions?

Anyway, I've never been a fan of college football because of the nauseous sight of rabid fans showing up for a meaningless game involving eighteen- to twenty-year-old boys. What's the significance of such bullshit? College football fans don't care about past history, no matter how long the program has been in existence, but are rather concerned whether or not their team is currently in the championship picture. Most football players don't belong in college while the silly institutions of "higher learning" have always been about money.

All in all, I'm not sympathetic to any of the characters in Everybody's All-American, but it's been sentimental.