Dove Review

“Endgame” is an appropriately titled movie that strongly makes the point that results are what counts. The film, inspired by true events, features strong performances from Rico Rodriguez as Jose, Ivonne Coll as Abuelita, Efren Ramirez as Coach Alvarado, and Alina Herrera as Jose’s best friend, Dani.

The story centers on Jose and his struggle of living in older brother Miguel’s shadow. Miguel is a superb soccer player, and his Brownsville, Texas team is on the verge of winning a championship. He has a close relationship with their mother, who absentmindedly overlooks Jose a lot. Jose becomes angry and destructive and even destroys a trophy of Miguel’s at school. But when the principal gives him detention, Coach Alvarado works with Jose and other students to start a chess team. Jose enjoys the support of his grandmother who, along with his deceased grandfather, taught him how to play chess. His life starts to improve, but then tragedy strikes in more ways than one. A terrible accident claims Jose’s brother’s life, and one of the strongest chess players, Jose’s best friend Dani, is deported, along with her parents. Will Jose be able to overcome the bitter disappointments and continue with his efforts to help his team win in a major competition? Even his coach says he has sold pickles to have enough gas money to keep driving the team to events. Will Jose’s perseverance make a difference?

The film is inspirational, but we should mention that some kids make fun of the coach behind his back, and a young man is disrespectful to his mother and to the principal. Some underage kids drink, and the driver has a beer and is texting, and then they get into a terrible accident. The kids in the movie mature quite a bit by film’s end. “Endgame” is awarded our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal. Its themes include perseverance and resilience. Parents should consult our content listing to make informed decisions about their kids watching the film. The movie shows what a little love and faith can do to turn a life around.

Dove Rating Details

0

Faith

None

0

Integrity

Boys shove each other; the flashing lights and sounds of a car crash; a few kids throw objects in anger; a kid shoves chess pieces away in anger and frustration; a kid breaks a trophy that was in the trophy case; kid snaps pencil in anger.

2

Sex

A "She's hot" comment; a boy loses to a girl in a chess match and says he was distracted, and his grandmother points at his crotch and says he was thinking with the "wrong head."

2

Language

OMG (letters are spoken)-1; D-2; A-1; Sh*tty-1; H-2; H (as a biblical place)-1; Butt head-1; Double Butt head-1; Butt-1; Crap-1; Frickin'-1; Punk-1; Liar-1; Little Brat-1; Coach said kid is playing like a "pansy"; Shut up-1

2

Violence

Boys shove each other; the flashing lights and sounds of a car crash; a few kids throw objects in anger; a kid shoves chess pieces away in anger and frustration; a kid breaks a trophy that was in the trophy case; kid snaps pencil in anger.

2

Drugs

Several boys, underage, drink beer and vodka and are in an accident, which results in death; comments about drinking taking the "edge off"; a joke about butt cheek one and butt cheek two living in a "crack" house.

1

Nudity

Girl in short dress.

2

Other

Young man disrespects principal, mom and coach; the young man feels ignored, and he loses his brother to death; other kids mock coach; death and grief; tension between characters; a kid purposely gives principal a spicy jawbreaker; kid's grandmother lies to his mom and says he is not in her house; a grandmother tells her grandson his brother, who was killed in a car accident, went to heaven because he did more good things than bad things; woman gives boy a small saint statue to "protect" him; a mother grieves and wonders why God took her son; a kid says another kid picked his nose throughout an entire chess match; a girl's parents, not legally U.S. citizens, are arrested and deported; kid runs away from mother and hides in a trash bin.