Based on the book Dad in a Cheer Bow by Patrick R. Riccards, and the screenplay by Joyce Licorish, who also directed the film, this is a unique story that features some laughs along the way.
Actor Tim Perez-Ross gives us a funny and charismatic character in Patrick Riccards, who winds up as an assistant coach for his daughter Anna’s cheer team. The book is a memoir of his experiences, which is brought to comedic life in the movie. Patrick had no experience in coaching the sport at all, but it made his daughter happy, so he did it.
The movie opens with an energetic song featuring lines like, “We got this!” It’s a song about defeating fear and achieving a goal. The viewer soon learns that Anna (Joey Victoria Lezama) wants to find her “thing,” after having already tried soccer, horseback riding, Tae Kwon Do, and softball. It’s stated that each one came and went like the seasons.
After the family moves to a new home, with a new school and into unfamiliar territory, Anna misses her friends and “belonging.” However, she begins to watch cheerleading on her laptop and soon she is hooked. Something clicks, and she feels like she belongs in that world. She begins practicing raising her arms in front of a mirror.
Soon she tells her mom about the try-outs and, if they make it to nationals, they go to Disneyworld. “This is like ESPN level!” she declares. She says the previous things she tried were “baby stuff” but “This is the big leagues!” Her mom tells her to talk to her dad, but “if you’re in, you’re all in.”
Enter Dad, Patrick, who encourages her. “You’re strong, you’re ready, and you’re mine. That’s already a win!” We learn that Anna and her younger brother, Mike, whom she calls “Squirt,” were adopted from Guatemala. Mike wants to meet his biological parents one day, but Anna is totally happy and feels complete with her adoptive mom and dad.
The cheerleading coach tells Patrick that Anna is a “flyer, fearless and flexible.” Patrick helps with the practice, and takes photos, and Anna’s pom poms get part of Patrick in a funny photo! The girls love Patrick and his enthusiasm, and so does Coach Christine. Patrick is made her assistant coach. One of two blemishes in this otherwise family-friendly film, is an older mother talking about Patrick’s “buns” and how he looks like a well-seasoned John Travolta. And, in a later scene, at a sleepover at Anna’s house with the team, the same mother grabs Patrick’s rear. It is out of place compared to the rest of this family-friendly movie and it unfortunately drops it to being approved for Ages 12+ instead of for All Ages. Right after this second occurrence, another mother reminds the woman that Patrick is a married man.
Anna’s team, the Wildcats, continues to improve and Patrick is right in the thick of things, encouraging both Anna and the team to do repetitions and to believe in themselves. Anna becomes frustrated at one point, complaining that the coach has had them do the same slips “a gazillion times!” But Patrick tells her to give the coach a little grace, as “She just wants what’s best for the squad.”
Patrick undergoes a bit of stress from his boss at work, who sees some of his work falling off as Patrick is so involved with the cheer team. And often he gets up early and goes to bed late. It also puts some strain between his wife and him, but they work through it. Both Patrick and Anna show a lot of heart, as does the rest of the team, and soon the Wildcats are off to the finals.
We won’t give the ending away, but there’s a lot to cheer for as the Wildcats hope to make their dreams come true. The movie does a nice job in mixing humor with drama, and in showing the frustrations as well as the moments of triumph. The humor is always welcome. In one scene after practice Patrick and Anna and the team go out for a bite to eat at a restaurant. They order cheese fries and Patrick pulls the plate to him when it arrives, and says, “What are you all going to eat?” Patrick winds up wearing a “bow hat” too, signifying he is a definite part of the team.
The team truly becomes like a family by the time they arrive at the Tumble Pros Nationals. This movie does a terrific job in showing how hard work, perseverance, and faith can lead to some wonderful moments in life.
Content Analysis: The movie has some positive elements, such as the mom and dad being there for their adopted kids, and the dad helping his daughter realize a dream. However, it also has some content moments that parents need to consider. A woman mentions a married man’s rear, and does so a few times in the movie, even grabbing his rear in one scene. A woman reminds her that the man is married. And in one scene some mothers shake their rears as they are dressed in cheerleading clothes, and the cameras give us a close-up of the moment. There are also several uses of “OMG” in the film and one mother shouts, “I’ll drink to that!” from the stands.
Think About That: Discussion topics can include how people should act toward a married person, and what “not to do.” In addition, the need for good parent and child relationships would be a good discussion point. Also, how prayer to God along with hard work is a powerful combination.
The Dove Take: The movie, because of its positive parent and child focus, and demonstrating how hard work can pay off, has earned our Dove Seal for Ages 12+. NOTE: It is rated PG.
Based on the book Dad in a Cheer Bow by Patrick Riccards, this heartfelt and uplifting story follows a devoted father who steps far outside his comfort zone when his spirited, adopted daughter dreams of making it to cheer nationals—and ultimately, Walt Disney World.
Determined to support her at all costs, he joins her competitive cheer team as an assistant coach, diving headfirst into a high-energy world of routines, rivalries, and over-the-top cheer moms who aren’t quite sure what to make of him. As he juggles work, parenting, and the pressures of the cheer circuit, he quickly learns that this journey is about more than pom poms and competitions—it’s about belonging, identity, and what it truly means to show up for your child.
With humor, heart, and unforgettable moments both on and off the mat, Dad in a Cheer Bow celebrates the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter, proving that family isn’t just what you’re born into—it’s what you fight for.
