Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5082 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-08-13
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
This football fairy tale follows the life of young Jimmy Grimble (Lewis McKenzie), a shy Manchester school boy. When an old woman (Jane Lapotaire) rescues Jimmy from being roughed up by bullies, she gives him a pair of boots that belonged to a City legend. Soon Jimmy's on his way to becoming a top player. The charming film also features Robert Carlyle, Ray Winstone, and Gina McKee.

Customer Reviews

Propa Cosh!!
This is a feel good extravaganza film, one of the unsung british comedy films. The story line is about a under confident teen who is growing up in the rough inner city Manchester area. He has one dream, to become a professional footballer for the Machester under dogs Man City. But before then he needs to build up his confidence to be able to show off his skills in public. He does this by accidently meeting an old bag lady who tricks him into thinking he has magic shoes. The story goes on as he works his way up through the school footy team onwards with these magic shoes. But while this is happening, through out the story line there are hilarious jokes and gimmicks to entertain all viewers over the age of about 13. This is definatly a film to see.

A good all rounder film,full of laughs and totally inspiring
This film has everything. Is appealing to all ages over 12. It's simplicity works well and leaves you feeling full of hope that anything is possible.

Young teen's feel good movie
Jimmy Grimble is a Manchester lad, keen on football, who supports Manchester City, the town's second club which is generally in the shadow the much more successful Manchester United. He lives with his mother who wants, but cannot find, a long term relationship and at school, he is constantly picked upon and bullied by the dominant, Manchester United supporting group.

His love of football is strong enough that he ignores the bullies and finally manages to wangle himself a place on the school team. Initially, he is a substitute but he gains a regular place in the team when he scores a lucky goal and gains confidence through a pair of "lucky" boots.

His nemesis in the team, "Gorgeous" Gordon Burley is the leader of the bullies and he will stop at nothing to do Jimmy down. Gordon's father is on the school board of govenors and has high hopes for his son's future in professional football.

The team enters the Manchester schools cup. Gordon wants the girls and to be picked by the Manchester United talent scouts who follow the competition. Gordon's father wants fortune for his son and offers to pay for a new sports pavillion for the school if they reach the final of the cup.

The film revolves around a number of questions.

Will the team reach or even win the final of the schools cup?

Will Jimmy defeat the bullies who want to stop him from succeeding in the team?

Will Jimmy's mother ditch Colin, her current, rather lame boyfriend?

Will she get back together with Harry, the ex-boyfriend who is the only man in her past that Jimmy liked?

Will we get to the bottom of the mysterious past of Eric Wirral, the school's soccer coach?

What is the story behind Jimmy's magic boots?

Will Jimmy sort out his relationship with Sara, the girl who has won his affection?

Of course, as a young teenager's feelgood movie, you can be assured that the film will deliver the "right" answers to all of those questions but it does a good job in delivering them without insulting the viewer's intelligence.

The film hits its chosen spot with accuracy. It is not so overpoweringly sweet that it is an embarrassment but it does not deliver so much bad news that it will discourage younger viewers.

Robert Carlyle as the Soccer coach and Lewis McKenzie as Jimmy anchor the film. Carlyle has a harder role here than as the irrepressible Gaz in "The Full Monty" and he rises to the part. The other adult actors perform creditably but none are called upon to be particularly special and John Henshaw and Samia Ghadie as Jimmy's worst enemy and love interest are the only others to impress. There is a cameo appearance by Jane Lapotaire as the derelict who gives Jimmy his lucky boots but she does not have a role that demands any of her talents.

As a film for young to mid teens, it is a success and seen as that it is a good film and an agreeable way for a family to spend an hour and a half. It's not a "Billy Elliot" or a "Whistle Down the Wind" but it does deliver what it sets out to do.

With its working class English setting and its concentration on soccer, this movie will not play well to North American audiences.