In this day when movies are about exploding meteorites and the destruction of mankind along comes a film that puts life in clearer perspective and offers nice family-oriented fare.
Possums, written and directed by OU graduate J. Max Burnett, is a heartwarming story of how the national pastime of football can bring a town together and it reminds us that dreams can come true.
Mac Davis stars as the owner of a hardware store and amateur football announcer for the Nowata High School Possums, a team that hasn't scored a touchdown in over a decade. Other teams like to play the Possums for homecoming because it's well known they can be beat.
When the town mayor initiates a petition to abolish the high school football team, the entire town signs it, including the football coach. This prompts Davis to announce fake football games in which the Possums begin an unprecedented winning streak.
The film also intertwines football with love as new student Jake, played by Greg Coolidge, finds romance after Davis puts him into one of his games and has him score a touchdown. There are lots of nice pieces of humor with the cast of front-porch, main-street philosophers who spend their days on a bench in front of Davis' store.
Possums should make Norman residents proud with nice touches of home. There's a cameo by Barry Switzer as the football coach of the rival team, and a character based on local Norman Transcript carrier Calvin Steves. Steves is portrayed by OU graduate Nathan Burgess. Instead of an OU helmet he sports one with a "P" for Possums.
Possums is a nice, simple movie with football serving as a metaphor for the towns' unity and bond. It's funny and touching, and even if they're not saving the world, the town and its people are finding courage and strength.
Possums is part of a growing crop of independent movies that explore the aspects of small-town living like last year's Dancer, Texas, Pop. 81. The film has a nice independent spirit and features a feel-good story.
The acting is impressive, and although the script seems to have a few holes, there is nothing really obvious.
All around, it's a nice debut.
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