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Release in October of 1994, this family-friendly sports comedy film by director Duwayne Dunham
failed to recoup it's $20-million dollar budget at the box office, but having watched it multiple
times on VHS as a kid, I have to imagine it did much better on home video. Inspired by
a 1990's McDonald's Super Bowl ad: Rick Moranis and Ed O'Neil, in the height of both of their
respective careers, star as two competitive brothers in a small Ohio town obsessed with
football: who essentially have a contest as to who can coach the better pee-wee team.
Playing the perfectly awkward, but lovable dork, Moranis guides a band of misfit reject
children to the film's climatic big game: showing them that everyone deserves a chance.
O'Neil is terrific at balancing the stereotypical "bad guy" traits with the charming uncle and
brother side of his character. Long before safety concerns and regulations exposed youth-sports
as dangerous, this 106-minute film paints a nostalgic look at team spirit, football,
and the classic American community. The basic exposition is overtly spoon-fed to the audience,
with O'Neil speeding away in a shiny new sports car with boastful vanity plates: because if
it wasn't clear already: he's a big hot shot, and there's no way his hand-picked team will
lose to Moranis's rag-tag team of goofy little kids. The featured child-actors are all adorable,
and undeniably entertaining: from a junk-food hungry kid who farts at everyone, to a sheltered
kid who explodes with rage when you threaten his mom. Their character personalities and
story-arcs are all extremely juvenile and rudimentary, but they provide for some great
laughs. Early 90's teen hearthrob Devon Sawa isn't given much to do except look pretty,
but his on-screen crush, Shawna Waldron turns in an excellent performance as the hard-tackling
tomboy who finds herself at odds with her feminine feelings. A scene with Waldron and
Moranis, both afraid to introduce themselves to their respective love-interests is amusing
and endearing. The visuals, cinematography, music, are never impressive; but they're competently
accomplished: this PG adventure moves quickly, providing many hilarious moments. Especially
Moranis's inspirational "one time" halftime speech, or a montage featuring all of the Little Giants
psyching themselves up the night before the game. A second-act cameo sequence by John
Madden, Emmitt Smith and other NFL legends is interesting enough, but feels especially
out of place and forced: and honestly, most kids probably won't know who they are anyway.
Some background character's, like O'Neil's assistant coach, or two elderly men who bet
on the pee-wee contest: are completely dropped from the script halfway through. These issues
aren't likely to detract from any enjoyment, but they're a sign of poor execution, and
the film's directorial change mid-way during shooting. This sensationalized story is a
great time for the entire family, and one I'll have no problem watching with my kids
someday. "Little Giants", "Classic family comedy, supremely memorable". Now here are
some of your YouTube reviews.
The rate-o-matic with "Little Giants"... a SEVEN and a SEVEN. You applauded the kid-friendly
humor, and the good-natured laughs, but faulted this film for being a bit too predictable,
you rated it "COOL". I completely agree. This was a picture a truly loved as a kid, and
it holds up remarkably well today, but it's hardly a masterpiece by any means, I'll rank
it COOL as well.