`Tin Cup” is a jock movie made by experts, and when it’s clicking, it’s a delight.
Most fictional sports movies tend to be hokey come-from-behind fantasies or phony inspirational stories, but this new links romp from the “Bull Durham” team — writer-director Ron Shelton and star Kevin Costner — has what “Durham” had. Despite some sub-par scenes and formula gimmicks, it’s a mostly beguiling mix of sports smarts and sharp-eyed comedy.
Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy (Costner), the movie’s hero, is a maverick golf instructor at a decrepit west Texas driving range who is inspired to enter the U.S. Open — the one major pro tournament theoretically open to all golfers — after he falls hard for psychologist Molly Griswold (Rene Russo) while giving her a golf lesson. Then comes a double stinger: Roy is humiliated by his foxy and now-famous former college teammate Dave Simms (Don Johnson), who shows up to ask Roy to caddy for him and then turns out to be Molly’s lover.
Despite his hustler’s prowess, Tin Cup is a free spirit who never went anywhere, a golfer prone to grandstanding and tantrums when he isn’t under the calming influence of his cynical coach and caddy, Romeo (Cheech Marin).
As successful as Roy is marginal and as even-tempered as Roy is hot-headed, pro star Simms — a good part for Johnson — is a charmer and phony who represents what Roy hates or avoids: selling out, sucking up, playing the establishment game. But Simms has what Roy wants most: Molly’s company.
The film is good, but it isn’t a complete success — perhaps because it can’t seem to choose between being a maverick or a sellout. Shelton and his writing (and golfing) partner John Norville use more Hollywood formula comedy and revenge-fantasy hokum than you’d expect — certainly more than Shelton had in his last movie, the scathing baseball bio “Cobb.”
At his best when he’s going for bloopers and screwballs, ex-pro baseball player Shelton may be the best sports-movie director since that old tennis champ and car racer Howard Hawks. But the forced romantic comedy scenes between Roy and Molly pale next to “Bull Durham’s” Costner-Susan Sarandon scorchers.
Far more engaging is the rapport between Roy and Romeo, or the simmering rivalry between Roy and Simms. And the U.S. Open re-creation, with the CBS-TV announcing team and dozens of pro golfers showing up, are lucid and right.
Audiences will probably eat up “Tin Cup” — just as they did Shelton’s basketball classic, “White Men Can’t Jump.” They’ll like the golf scenes, Costner’s star swagger and Marin’s on-the-nose comedy — and they’ll probably like the movie’s clarity of vision.
Remember how the world looked on the days when your game — whatever it was — was really on? That’s how life looks in “Tin Cup”: the world through the eyes of someone with clear vision, unlimited confidence and a sweet swing.
”TIN CUP”
(star) (star) (star)
Directed by Ron Shelton; written by John Norville, Shelton; photographed by Russell Boyd; edited by Paul Seydor, Kimberly Ray; production designed by James Bissell; music by William Ross; produced by Gary Foster, Ron Shelton. A Warner Brothers release; opens Friday. Running time: 2:13. MPAA rating: R. Language, sensuality, nudity.
THE CAST
Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy ……………….. Kevin Costner
Dr. Molly Griswold …………………… Rene Russo
Romeo Posar …………………………. Cheech Marin
David Simms …………………………. Don Johnson
Doreen ……………………………… Linda Hart
Earl ……………………………….. Dennis Burkley
