Sweet Dreams

I was looking for something light-hearted and entertaining to watch. Maybe with a few feels and some laughs. The trailer made me think of Major League but toned down and a little more staid. It was not that at all but am very glad of it.

I got a lot more. It turns out Johnny Knoxville can turn in a very good performance. Coupled with a great supporting cast that seemed to be directed almost as if ad-libbed. The scripting and end result is great.

Knoxville plays Morris, who we find staying at a rehabilitation house attempting to get his life back by way of coaching his fellow housemates in a softball competition. The comedy is balanced well with the serious side of addiction, with a group of diverse but relatable characters. The result is a far more realistic portrayal of recovery without becoming overly dark. I never once thought it was depressing but, through my own experiences, never felt the subject was treated with anything but respect and honesty.

This one surprised me. Not what I was expecting but am very glad I found it.

Where to start?

Let's start with Bobby Lee floating round this film looking like a marshmallow that got lucky on the lip of a rejection bin. Meaning he looks like a marshmallow that has been rolling around the factory floor in dust, pubes & dirt for 50 years.

His acting is laughably bad; which is a blessing. And when he isn't trying to act he's just being Bobby Lee. Theo Von shows promise.

The film itself, is too, and and and, instead of, so but so. This means it fails to really engage. It's just too choppy. At the very least throw in a few fade shots. Make the transition smooth.

But the film is not terrible. It watches like a practice run. With a bit more skill the film could have been very good.

Firstly there are some great acting performances in this film which really caught me by surprise. Johnny Knoxville in some of the more dramatic scenes were pretty good. With that said there are some actors that were just plain awful which is kinda the norm for a film like this.

The plot had its moments that kept it watchable, but also a few that were too forced. I feel like maybe if they added 30 more minutes they would have had a more complex story arch and would have corrected these issues.

Sometimes while watching it felt like a hallmark channel film with all the "sweetness" but the same time the subject and language wouldn't make it as such. Overall I did enjoy but could have been better.

Johnny Knoxville definitely rocked his acting chops off here and had me tearing up several times as one who has lived with addicts, and been one myself. This movie means well and does not do more than it's intended theme.

While I knew Mr. Knoxville had it in him to act well, he really showed some crazy depth in this movie. Bobby Lee and Theo Von were nice additions but honestly, the other supporting actors really brought it. Don't go into this expecting to laugh your butt off the whole time as the more serious parts could catch you off guard.

Recommend for drama lovers and those looking to get sober and have something to relate to.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.