User reviews

One of the most disturbing films I've ever seen about our sports-centric culture. I think even VInce Lombardi would say there is no victory in the tragic American families portrayed in this documentary. The filmmakers do a superb job of capturing candid moments of very twisted adults pretending to do what's best for their children. One blames it on God's will, and the rest are simply out for a scholarship or a Tiger Woods payday. The bottom line is not one of them is a competent parent, nor are they raising individuals who will be very beneficial to society. The day these poor kids are put on the bench, or miss a put, or drop a pass they will lose their purpose in life, according to their parents. No kidding. You have to see this film, and realize these middle class adults naively allowed their misguided and myopic behavior to be fully documented, to appreciate how out of touch these parents are with reality.

So I saw this and it was making me very upset at the parents. This documentary is about parents who live through their children's sports accomplishments and how the parents try to push their dreams on their kid. You have a divorce father, who just berates his son as he watches over every aspect of his son's football life. He absolutely destroys his son's self esteem. You have another father who believes that if he gets his son the right type of things to eat, his son will grow taller. He doesn't so much get on his son's case (basketball dad), he curses at the coach, bad mouths other players (on and off his son's team) Another father, whose son plays on the same team, he is a little more calm at the game but if very underhanded himself You have the worst of the bunch, a father who is trying to push his 7 year old (or 8 year) old daughter into being the next Tiger Woods. He actually calls his daughter names. And he makes disparaging remarks about another race. And you have an over educated, over thinking mother, who has twin boys and she is pushing them into tennis. But she uses the excuse of this is what GOD wants from them. And they are nothing more than a microcosm representation of a larger issue... the Parent who feel the need to live vicariously through their children and who seem to be having a second life renaissance by abusing the youth of their offspring. As if parental ability (basically the ability to biology create a kid) give them the right to do whatever the heck they want to do. And on the faces of these kids you can see how miserable they are pretty much. The type of pressure put on these kids result in the kids either commenting suicide or taking it out on others.. And these parents are completely blind in seeing this. Very interesting documentary.

Seriously, it was getting uncomfortable to watch Golf Dad pouting all over the course after every single shot his daughter hit. that guy is a complete scumbag. Can't believe some of the things he calls his daughter.. "wait until you get in the car." You've gotta think their is some physical abuse going on at home too.. he even implied in that one scene when he's getting up from the golf cart that he wishes it was the 70s again where it was 'acceptable' to beat up your kids. Seriously felt like this guy is just banking on his daughter becoming a pro one day and he can mooch off her winnings the rest of his life. Hope that scumbag gets what he deserves.

And what was with the basketball dads? How delusional could they be thinking their scrawny little barely 6 feet tall white kids have any chance of playing D1 basketball? Was hilarious to me when that Cal Poly all black team just came in and ran them out of the gym. It's one thing to be a nut case sports dad when your kid actually has a special talent, but these white kids are simply average players who have no chance at D1 basketball, let alone becoming a pro one day.

Tennis Mom was creepy, though I found it interesting how she really didn't even pay much attention when her kids were playing tennis. Too busy babbling about Jesus to the director, numerous times where she all of a sudden says "oh that was match point!" like she was not paying attention to the score at all.

Football dad was insane, that scene in the car with the kids mother driving didn't even seem real. His thought process is so warped it felt fake that he actually believes the stuff he says.

Coach Meier was awesome though, loved everything he said. Spot on.

Would recommend watching but prepare to be disgusted and angry at the end.

Rarely have I been angrier than when I watched this documentary. The film is about some kids who have parents who are the ultimate helicopter sports parents--parents who insist their children MUST succeed and at any cost. What will you see in this film? Well, several parents use threats of physical abuse to motivate their little athletes. All of them use emotional blackmail and emotional abuse (though the mother of the tennis players wasn't as bad in this respect) and literally have robbed their children of childhoods. And again and again, it's shocking that these parents haven't had their kids taken away from them and the schools have often caved in to their bullying. It is not an exaggeration that these parents are among the most vile you could imagine. After all, a crack-addicted parent could blame crappy parenting on the drug but these parents have no such excuse.

Okay, it's obvious the film created a huge emotional reaction within me. But what about the technical merits? Well, when the film began I noticed that the camera-work was simply awful--and the camera bounced around as if it was using a monkey cam. Fortunately, it DOES get better...so stick with it. My only question, though, is how could the filmmakers watch all this abuse and not get involved? Sure, I know they wanted to make a film but there also comes a point where you'd think they'd have a responsibility to take their material to Children's Services.

By the way, if you want to watch a film that touches on SOME of this but offers a much wider range of parenting and the children's enjoyment of the game, try "The Short Game". And, incidentally, one of the vilest parents is in BOTH films.

Overall, I'd say the film is good despite some technical glitches because it DOES get your attention and hold it. But it also is VERY frustrating because the viewer REALLY wants to know what's happened to these poor kids.

The documentary starts off with a look at the training some of the kids go through. It is intense stuff, and from their training they look like they could play their respective sport really well. However, I was surprised to see initially, that they weren't doing that well come game time. Also, it didn't help that their parents were on the side yelling at them.

It is very disconcerting to know that children are being raised like this, because I am sure it happens. This documentary does at times feel like a reality show, since the people being filmed obviously know they are being filmed, and sometimes get prompts to answer questions. But, I did like that we could hear the questions being asked, as it did add some 'spontaneity' to their answers.

As well, the editing and sequence of the scenes are well done. I do feel like we see a bit more of the two basketball athletes (which is fine by me), but we see more of their games and not much after game talk. I do wonder where the other half of the kids' parents/ family are. We get glimpses of them on screen from time to time, but they don't give any comment.

For the most part, the cinematography is good, with close ups and long shots. However, there are instances where it feels more like a found film, with the camera handled by a rookie, or teens on the run. Some scenes would start with an extreme close up of the parent, and zoom out, with the camera shaking a bit as well. While that does add to the documentary aspect of it, perhaps it is an indication that this is a low budget film.

Overall, a terrifying watch, with parents thinking they always know the best. Some of their behavior can definitely be contested as emotional abuse to their children.

Parents... horrible. I'm sure they are not all like the ones in this movie, but wow. It just angered me to watch how these parents behaved toward their kids and people around them. Amari (little golfer) had the worst, with her over bearing father cursing & swearing... calling her names that NO parent should EVER call their little daughter.

For the two basketball kids, wow, they truly are talented with this ball skills, but the physical limitations were pretty obvious, especially against those Division I ready kids.

At the end of the day, the parents had no idea what these kids wanted to do.. One of the parents actually saying that she's doing everything to help her kids achieve their dream... which frankly was her dream.

The Documentary seemed to provide an accurate perspective on sports parenting skills. The Documentary made me sick to my stomach, that in this supposedly advanced society such levels of cruelty and inhuman behavior can be exhibited. I give the creators of the Documentary high marks for not dumbing down the content, and giving what seems to be a very dramatic and effecting film, brutally honest.

The parents own words are used, and the children's look of shame, fear, and lack of confidence was heartbreaking to watch. You need a license to drive, to hunt, even to fish, but any idiot can be a parent.

All I can say is they use the death penalty on the wrong people.

These sports parents make Pablo Escobar sound like a boy scout.

One of the most depressing movies I have seen. LEAVE COACHING TO THE COACHES. The level of incompetence shown by the parents is unbelievable. They have killed their kids childhood and their relationship with their children for the sake of trying to achieve their own unfulfilled dreams. HAVING A KID DOES NOT MAKE YOU A COACH !!!!!! AND IT SURE AS HELL DOES NOT MAKE YOU A GOOD PARENT. Watch how the golf coach interacted with the little girl, watch how much better the basketball kid played without his dad there. There it was in black and white.

'Trophy kids' was an up to snuff documentary reviewing the life of children and adolescents whose lives are being influenced by sport and their over-the-top-sport-parents. This is an unusual film. You wont get many like this. This movie is actually going into the lives of these kids and being told from their perspective, as well as a lot of it being told from the parents perspective. This documentary is unusual , not only because its talking about an unusual topic , but because it is actually going into the lives of the kids in great detail.

It can also be a rather blue movie, since the parents are going over-the-top and sometimes being unfair with their kid. Its a good documentary , because its showing the audience more or less everything they want to know about their lives and not missing out anything. It is made really well , going from one kids life to another, and at the end finishing it off with a touching ending. There is a big message in this documentary(that is why it is a good movie to watch). When you watch it, you will have to figure out that message for yourself.

For me sport is fun, for me sport is about being competitive but after riding my bike it is about beating my previous PB or doing well, thats my achievement.

For my daughter in swimming and yes dancing it is great to see her happy winning a trophy or being in the swim team, I say to her, be the best you can then you can never say you never tried.

That is all we should ask of our kids but now the money is so much, any kid with a slight bit of talent is pushed and pushed. Very few make it and the stories of the failures (they are not to me) are common all over.

Money is driving parents to look at the $$ signs and not what is best for their kid. A talented and determined kid will always come through, a bullied kid will fail. I look at Andy Murray, for sure his parents and esp Mum pushed him but it is clear he is a normal functioning guy with normal emotions. It is clear he was never pushed beyond what he wanted to do and he won.

On this program these parents don't see beyond themselves and their own egos and wallets, That is all that matters to them, why have kids I ask ?

Although I found the movie OK mainly due to the talented kids I found myself wanting to go to America to tell these parents that a child's life should be enjoyable not a constant conflict between themselves and parents . I found the American footballers father to be a horrendous person that I couldn't watch at certain points and the same can be said about the golf dad who at one point called his little girl a bitch. If you are a pushy parent this one is for you but if you love your child as a child it probably should be avoided. For some reason and I am not sure what reason I kept watching even though these parents were making my blood boil every time one of them opened there mouths. Every parent wants the best for there children and this documentary shows the most extreme side of that and it is very hard to watch at times. Overall I'm glad I watched as it has shown me the kind of parent I really do not want to become

Why don't these kids try harder? What excellent parents, putting their lives aside to help their kids achieve their dreams. If only the kids were more grateful for having such loving parents. It's important to be the best and their parents have all the knowledge they need in life. They need to do better at listening and doing exactly what their parents say and they'll succeed in life. It's for the kids' benefit that they put away childish things and strive to be the best athlete they can be in their favorite sport. The coaches and referees are constantly standing in the kids' way, and god. It shows just how great any kid can be as an athlete if they had a parent that loved them that much.

As I watched the football dad COMPLETELY belittle and then gaslight his son into tears all because he wanted to stop the conversation and then gaslight his wife into not standing up for their son. OMG! That poor boy. Horrible horrible horrible parents--- all 4 sets.

"God's will" "I'm making him/her tough" "Buy into your dream"

Peter Berg almost did too good of a job showing us how children get emotionally abused and this become damaged adults. Sports is supposed to be fun and supposed to teach you something... Not an excuse for a parent to live vicariously through them or license to abuse them.

I am sorry for these kids and wish someone could go 'save' them.

Just pathetic to see kids which is what they are brain washed by abusive parents.They are not preparing them for the harsh reality that not everyone who plays a sport is going to be a professional. The one dad of Justice is the most guilty one on here. You can tell his life just sucks and he's trying to somehow make his lame existence mean something by mentally and physically abusing his kid. What is wrong with parents? I went to a high school where the messed up parents would act like the same idiots on this show. It's like how sad are parents its not like every kid is some sort of sports star. And the one bragging how he's spent as much as two Lamborghinis on stuff to train his son. Then said the scholarship is the goal. I'm like wouldn't it have been easier to just pay for the school with the money you wasted on your kid for training that obviously didn't help if you have to spend that much.

Chris Bell battles yet again his demons. Each time its another aspect of his life and his family. And it's nice. But Bigger, Faster is still his best achievement because he makes the story personal to another level. Here there is a glimpse into some people's lives. Although everything is cut to fit to a certain image, these are still only small fragments. And because there are more stories everything is less concentrated as in the story of the Bells.

Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch