Shooting Stars

Name: Shooting Stars
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Released: June 2, 2023
Rating: 62
Cast: Algee Smith, Avery Serell Wills Jr., Brayden Cross, Caleb McLaughlin, Dermot Mulroney

2023

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Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Shooting Stars

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Movie Details & Credits

Peacock | Release Date (Streaming): June 2, 2023 | PG-13

Starring: Algee Smith, Avery Serell Wills Jr., Brayden Cross, Caleb McLaughlin, Dermot Mulroney, Katlyn Nichol, Khalil Everage, LeBron James, Marquis Mookie Cook, Natalie Paul, Stefan Johnson, Sterling Henderson, Sterling Hurst, Thomas W Wolf, Wood Harris

Summary: In the 1990s, a young LeBron James (Marquis “Mookie” Cook) and his three best friends — Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin), Willie McGee (Avery S. Wills, Jr.) and Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage)—called themselves the “Fab Four,” after the famed Michigan Wolverines’ “Fab Five” of that era. From the moment we meet them, we realize this group of friends,In the 1990s, a young LeBron James (Marquis “Mookie” Cook) and his three best friends — Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin), Willie McGee (Avery S. Wills, Jr.) and Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage)—called themselves the “Fab Four,” after the famed Michigan Wolverines’ “Fab Five” of that era. From the moment we meet them, we realize this group of friends, under the guidance of coach Dru Joyce (Wood Harris), is connected by more than basketball. So, when the coach at the top basketball school in their district threatens to separate them by putting Lil Dru on junior varsity, the Fab Four decide to switch schools to be able to play varsity together, joining the team at a predominantly white Catholic school instead. The community takes this as an insult, but the boys’ dedication to each other is more important than anything else. With their new coach (Dermot Mulroney), a disgraced former college coach seeking redemption of his own, the boys, along with former rival and new teammate Romeo Travis (Sterling “Scoot” Henderson), will face battles not only on the court but in real life, in their quest to become national champs, and will rediscover that what matters most about the game is the people playing beside you.… Expand

Director: Chris Robinson

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, Sport

Rating: PG-13

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Jun 9, 2023

When a movie loves its characters and story as much as this one, and dedicates every aspect of filmmaking and performance to doing them justice, and consistently puts virtuosity in service of meaning, the result conjures a feeling that's close to what you experience when someone you adore has a great and richly deserved success, and you're privileged to be able to witness it and cheer them on. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Jun 1, 2023

An entertaining docudrama that rarely digs beneath the surface but serves as a bright and inspirational reminder of a time when basketball was the glue forging a bond among five young boys who started playing together when they were around 10 years old and remain close friends to this day. Read full review

Timothy Cogshell

Jun 1, 2023

Some parts of LeBron’s professional career are told in truncated form with a few figures left out or combined for cinematic purposes, but that’s it. And the film is better for focusing on relationships rather than on the easy highs of watching fast breaks and slam dunks. Read full review

Brandon Yu

Jun 1, 2023

For what it sets out to do, detailing the bond of young boys under surreal circumstances, Shooting Stars is a relatively sturdy retelling. Read full review

John Anderson

Jun 3, 2023

It is an inspiring story, no surprise, told with a great deal of warmth. Read full review

Trace Sauveur

Jun 1, 2023

Director Chris Robinson’s go at Shooting Stars doesn’t reach the heights of its genre’s potential, but it’s not a completely blank slate either. It sits somewhere right in the middle of both worlds: You can feel the inspired approach to the material at a basic craft level, but it’s also never particularly surprising that it went straight to streaming on Peacock. Read full review

Noel Murray

Jun 6, 2023

The idea behind this film is to celebrate James’ first and best teammates. In the real world, what they achieved as a basketball team was remarkable. But dramatized? On the screen? It’s stubbornly undramatic. Read full review

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User Reviews

rannynm

Jun 8, 2023

I love the new movie, Shooting Stars. You don’t need to be a basketball lover to enjoy this one! This movie is so motivational, relatable and hilarious. It is a must-see, and definitely a “slam-dunk.” The film highlights the inspirational story of the ultra-famous NBA player, LeBron JamesI love the new movie, Shooting Stars. You don’t need to be a basketball lover to enjoy this one! This movie is so motivational, relatable and hilarious. It is a must-see, and definitely a “slam-dunk.” The film highlights the inspirational story of the ultra-famous NBA player, LeBron James and his high school friends. It takes place in 1994 through 2003, during his childhood and high school years, and focuses on the “Fab Four” - young LeBron James (Marquis Cook) and his best friends Lil Dru Joyce (Caleb McLaughlin), Willie McGee (Avery Wills) and Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage).

I’ve never been an avid basketball follower or fan, but that didn’t make Shooting Stars any less of an enjoyable movie for me. Even though I never played basketball seriously, I can relate to this movie as a high school athlete. It was so interesting to learn things I never knew about LeBron James and his life. And what’s great is that if you want to learn even more about LeBron, you can read the book by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars, which the film is based on. Since the film was produced by LeBron himself, it provides an accurate representation of his early years. In a voiceover in the first-look teaser trailer James says, "People think they know my story, but this is our story." The sets, locations and props all reflect the time period and give us a bit of nostalgia. Additionally, the actors look so much like the people they play. Speaking of which, Marquis Cook, Caleb McLaughlin, Avery Wills, Khalil Everage, and Sterling Henderson work so well together and have a lot of chemistry. Additionally, they all are fabulous basketball players. Shooting Stars marks the acting debut of Marquis "Mookie" Cook as young LeBron James. Although he is a rookie actor, Cook has a substantial basketball background. He is not only a top-ranked high school athlete but has also participated in the 2023 All-American games. Throughout the movie, be on the lookout for some cameos! The message of this movie is to follow your passions and work hard for them. Additional themes are that your family isn’t just blood and that teamwork is important when you’re trying to achieve your goals. Be aware that there is some profanity and language that people may find offensive. I give Shooting Stars 5 of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Athletes and LeBron fans will particularly enjoy this movie. It releases exclusively on Peacock June 2, 2023. By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST!… Expand

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alanpotter17

Aug 31, 2023

Uma pena que o filme do Lebron James seja tão broxante. Diferentemente da homenagem empolgante que fizeram a Stephen Curry, com cenas de basquete dignas e um roteiro que sabia muito bem apara onde caminhar, aqui o roteiro simplesmente se afasta do basquete e abraça o drama ao estilo "ClubeUma pena que o filme do Lebron James seja tão broxante. Diferentemente da homenagem empolgante que fizeram a Stephen Curry, com cenas de basquete dignas e um roteiro que sabia muito bem apara onde caminhar, aqui o roteiro simplesmente se afasta do basquete e abraça o drama ao estilo "Clube dos cinco".
Veja como até mesmo a estética dos jogos de basquete vai se tornando cansativa: basicamente é filmar os jogos à meia altura, close em câmera lenta, e acelera na hora do ponto. Não há também equilíbrio para um partida: nas partidas onde há derrotas, filma-se o time em tom pesado e escuro, acentuando os erros e mostrando quase nada dos acertos, ao passo que nas partidas onde vencem, mostra-os em holofotes.
A história então parte para se fixar no grupo de amigos com dificuldade de desapego. Enquanto em "Clube dos cinco" o reforço ao grupo se fazia em situação de perigo e longe do olhar adulto, aqui os adultos parecem estar complacentes à dificuldade dos meninos em desapegar-se de laços que, uma hora ou outra, irão arrebentar. Na verdade, eles sabem que os laços serão rompidos, mas o roteiro precisa de um toque de novela mexicana.
então, diversas situações irritantes e enfadonhas nos são postas à prova, e por mais que a produção capriche no retrato de época, e tente de alguma forma trazer elementos reais, com as notícias e jornais daquele momento, o filme não escapa do tom episódico e de decepcionar nas cenas do esporte. Esperava muito mais. Ainda bem que temos o filme do Stephen Curry para contrapor-se a esse aqui.… Expand

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