Uno, dos, tres, McFarland! McFarland USA is a heart warming film that tells the story of seven cross country runners that come from a hard working picker background in McFarland, California. Their story is also about their coach Jim White who finds himself in a place he’s not familiar with, unsure if he can pull himself out of this slump. In the film, he knows nothing about cross country running, but sees the potential in the McFarland boys and together they not only pull together a cross country team, they pull together a whole community.
I loved McFarland USA because it wasn’t just another sports movie. It’s a really inspiring story about even in the darkest of times we can always aspire to greatness. As the film opens, Jim finds himself let go from yet another teaching job. He’s made bad choices and finds himself headed to McFarland High School because at this point it’s the only place he can get a job.
He and his family quickly find themselves in a strange new world where they are the minority in town. They aren’t sure they want to stay, but don’t have many options. For now they live in fear and are trying to make the best of a bad situation.
As Jim settles into his school, he starts to learn more about the people of McFarland. He sees how many of his students go to work in the fields with their families before school and sometimes miss school to go to work. One other thing he sees is that they are fast! Like, crazy fast. That’s when the wheels get turning!
Being a long distance runner in high school, I loved watching the team form. It wasn’t just about a sport. It was about showing the boys their talents and that it’s ok to think you can achieve better. It’s ok to dream.
Cross country is normally a “rich kid” sport, so seeing the McFarland team trying to compete really opens your heart. Some of these kids only have one pair of super worn down shoes let alone a good pair of running shoes. The other schools laugh at the McFarland team because they don’t “fit in.” It’s hard on the boys but Coach White brings the boys up and tells them to never let someone tell them they don’t deserve to be there.
As their confidence grows, you see a change in not only the team but the whole community. It’s a poor community, but they pool together what they can to get the boys the uniforms and supplies they need. The community begins to swell with pride. To see a whole community telling these boys they can achieve anything really touches you. It makes you think if these boys that come from almost nothing can achieve greatness there’s nothing in the world you can’t conquer!
McFarland, USA is one of my favorite movies I’ve seen in a while. It’s inspired me to keep plugging at my dreams even when times get hard. It’s a great movie for the whole family because it shows how family isn’t just the one you were born into. Family can be built with anyone that you dare to get to believe in.
McFarland USA opens today! February 20th in theaters everywhere! I highly recommend making it a family movie night!
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