‘Boogie’ a familiar sports movie from a fresh perspective
When it comes to sports movies, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. As long as the actual game scenes are coherent and there’s a greater purpose at work than the sport itself, you’ve done your job.
All new sports films must overcome that hurdle of audiences’ ingrained familiarity with the genre. “Boogie,” the debut film from writer-director Eddie Huang, is no exception, as it has to contend with the legacy of basketball movies ranging from “Hoosiers” to “Glory Road” to last year’s “The Way Back.”
While it rehashes quite a few tropes, “Boogie” mostly shines thanks to Huang’s clear love of basketball, his ability to deftly weave personal drama with oncourt set pieces and a fresh perspective.
The film follows Alfred “Boogie” Chin, an Asian American high schooler living in Queens, N.Y., who recently transferred schools to get more eyes on him as he seeks a top-tier college scholarship
and a chance at the NBA. Boogie is a hot head, though, with a lot to learn about how to be a team player.
He also has to contend with dueling expectations from his parents, a rivalry with fellow top prospect Monk (rapper Pop Smoke) and a growing relationship with a classmate, Eleanor. She’s played by Taylour Paige, who also recently starred as Dussie Mae in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
It’s clear right away that Huang understands the hoops a coveted baller must jump through to earn scouts’ attention. Boogie’s in-game antics begin taking a toll on his college and professional chances, forcing him to re-evaluate how he approaches basketball as a player and man.
Huang also brings an experience — that of an Asian-American mogul and sports fan — not featured in most sports films. He adds authenticity to the external pressures put on Boogie by his parents’ views, some rooted in his Chinese culture and heritage.
Huang, who attended the University of Pittsburgh for one year, also cleverly addresses the inevitable comparisons between Boogie and Jeremy Lin, a Taiwanese American basketball player and Harvard grad who inspired “Linsanity” in New York City during his brief stint as a Knicks point guard.
The performances are solid across the board. Takahashi imbues Boogie with an unearned hubris that contrasts with an inherent sweetness. He also more than acquits himself in the film’s basketball scenes, as does Pop Smoke. Paige also proves adept at keeping Boogie’s ego in check while also feeling like a fully formed person in her own right.
Half the fun of sports movies are the actual sports, and Huang keeps the basketball scenes simple enough that any seams aren’t obvious. The final contest between Boogie and Monk dips into some obvious cliches, but it’s thrilling nonetheless.
“Boogie” may not go down as a classic sports movie, but Huang definitely tapped into something worthy of celebrating. It’s a mustwatch for basketball fans and, at only 1 ½ hours in length, it’s breezy enough for anyone interested in a different take on a familiar story.