Long Game, The (2014)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on January 22, 2025 @ tonymacklin.net.

The Long Game (Netflix and Prime) is an unlikely entertainment for 2025.

In this present age of blatant divisiveness against Mexican-Americans, the film goes back almost 70 years to a story loosely based on something that actually happened. It was a time we once thought was ancient history.

When Humberto G. Garcia went back for a high school reunion in Del Rio, Texas, he found they were also honoring a golf team of five Mexican-Americans that won the Texas high school golf championship years before in 1957. But almost no one knew the team had even existed.

Garcia decided to research the team and wrote a nonfiction book Mustang Miracle. A woman tried to write a screenplay, but she didn't know anything about golf and the project was scrapped.

Eventually the project was resumed with three writers (not Garcia), and directed by Julio Quintana. Quintana does an able job.

In 1956, five Mexican-American students who were caddies at the local country club were challenged by the new school superintendent J.B. Pena (Jay Hernandez) to form a team. Of course, they were not allowed to play on the course or be members of the club. So they created practice greens on rough terrain, and used worn clubs. They have to beat discrimination.

Although there are some political obstacles, The Long Game is basically a feel-good movie. There are contrived moments - such as the romance between the best golfer and a girl. Or a golf ball turning out to be evidence of a crime.

But what raises The Long Game is the acting which humanizes the movie. Jay Hernandez is effective as the coach. Hernandez has recently taken the role of Thomas Magnum in the remake of the television series Magnum P.I. Both Dennis Quaid and Cheech Marin give a human energy to their roles of coach and groundskeeper. Brett Cullen is credible as a racist judge. And Jaina Lee Ortiz is appealing as Pena's wife.

The Long Game is an above par entertainment.