'The Mighty Macs' Scores as Both a Family and Sports Film

COMMENTARY | The 2009 film "The Mighty Macs" finally makes its way to theaters nationwide Oct. 21. The movie tells the underdog story of the 1972 Immaculata College women's basketball team on its way to the first national championship game in college women's basketball, the AIAW tournament. Despite exploring the often-used theme of a small school's basketball or football team conquering the larger, well-funded teams from state colleges and ivy league universities, "The Mighty Macs" remains engaging, fun and heartwarming.

A portion of the film's appeal derives from the fact that this rags-to-riches story is true. Cathy Rush took over the Immaculata College basketball team and guided the women to three consecutive state championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974. During her seven years as the Immaculata coach, Rush accumulated a winning percentage of .909 and revolutionized the training tactics used in women's basketball by introducing the aggressive defensive and offensive strategies and drills previously used primarily by men's teams. Her techniques paid off and skyrocketed the Immaculata team to nationwide notoriety. Many of Rush's initial players later went on to become successful women's basketball coaches in their own right - for both college teams and the WNBA.

Additional appeal is afforded the film through Tim Chambers' directorial skills and the lack of emphasis placed on individual displays of emotion. Marital tension, social concerns brought on by poverty, Immaculata's financial issues, and heartbreak all receive screen time in "The Mighty Macs," but these moments do not last long enough to derail the movie from its centerpiece of really good basketball. Instead, the glimpses into individual player's lives seemingly exist only to demonstrate what an individual must rise above to become part of the team and realize that their dream are achievable on both a personal and team level.

Carla Gugino delivered a more than convincing performance as Cathy Rush, and, with the help of stylists and costume designers, really managed to fit the time period as did the young women cast as the team. Actresses Katie Hayek and Kate Blair as Mac players Trish Sharkey and Lizanne Caufield were particular standouts during the recreated basketball games and the few emotionally heavy scenes in the film. Hopefully the mainstream release of "The Mighty Macs" will propel both ladies into more substantial roles in the future.

"The Mighty Macs" manages to capture the hope of a small group of women and girls during an otherwise turbulent time and does a great honor to the women who played Immaculata College basketball in 1972, 1973, and 1974 by providing viewers with an inspiring true story without a heavy-handed approach to plot-line embellishments. It is a film the whole family can appreciate, even if underdog stories are part of the usual movie lineup.