Article: The Longshots (PG, 94 minut ...

This is a lovely August surprise: A movie no one expected to be anything special turns out to be a charmer. "The Longshots" is humane, humorous, subtly uplifting and really well acted. It's based (with some fictionalization) on the true story of gifted 'tween quarterback Jasmine Plummer from small-town Illinois, who played with the guys in the Pop Warner youth football league. The film tells a tale of uncle-niece bonding and how the two overcome sadness and lack of confidence to shine. Excellent young actress Keke Palmer ("Akeelah and the Bee," PG, 2006) plays Jasmine, a painfully shy, bookish 11-year-old. Ice Cube is terrific as cranky uncle Curtis, an unemployed factory worker and former ...

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