The Squeeze Movie Review: Golf, Gambling, and Vegas
05 Mar 2015
by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Equipment Reviews
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Things start to get interesting, in the new movie
"The Squeeze" when a flamboyant
character named "Riverboat" enters the
scene. Riverboat is a gambler, and after hearing
about the exploits of an unknown Texas golfer
shooting 65-63 to win a rural city championship by
15 shots, he senses opportunity. The main character,
Augie, isn't hard to find, and is quickly drawn in by
the opportunity to make some "cash
money." The bets and characters get bigger
and shadier as the plot progresses.
At first I couldn't place the actor playing
Riverboat, but soon realized it was Christopher
McDonald, who played the PGA Tour player Shooter
McGavin, forever frustrated by Adam Sandler's
hockey stick shooting ace in "Happy
Gilmore." It would have been really cool if
"The Squeeze" was written as a
"Happy Gilmore" sequel, with Shooter
playing an older version of himself, the same way
Paul Newman's Fast Eddie Felson did in the pool hall
classic "The Color of Money" (a sequel to
"The Hustler" with Tom Cruise as the pool
shark).
No matter. Avid golfers tend to see all the golf
movies (it's our responsibility, isn't it?) and will
likely make the connection with McDonald's original
golf character. It gives "The Squeeze" a
bit of a nostalgic flair.
The movie, written and directed by famed ABC
Sports producer Terry Jastrow, involves golf,
gambling, and a predicament that gives the movie its
name. Having produced 68 major championships,
Jastrow gave the film authenticity by using actors
that can play -- the lead Jeremy Sumpter carries a
+1.1 index -- and using golf courses that improve
with the stakes.
As for the courses, and the cinematography --
they are both excellent. The swings are good; the
course scenes at sunset (there are lots of those)
make for really nice backdrops. That's especially
true for the part of the movie that takes place in Las
Vegas, where the golf is played at the famous Wynn
Resort. When some of the first shots are launched,
the arc of the ball against the golden Wynn hotel is
really stunning (a bit overused, as they repeat it a
few times, but stunning nonetheless).
And the conditions look so pristine that I
immediately added the Wynn Resort to my bucket
list, the same way I did Cypress Point after reading
"The Match."
"The Squeeze" is story that keeps
you guessing, and one that is filled with little twists
and turns that lead their way into the inevitable, a
life and death golf match. If you love golf, gambling,
and a good caper, I think you'll enjoy it.
MORE INFO
Available in Theaters, VOD
and iTunes: April 17, 2015
Cast: Jeremy Sumpter,
Christopher McDonald, Jillian Murray, Michael Nouri,
Jason Dohring, Katherine LaNasa
Directed by: Terry
Jastrow
Written by: Terry
Jastrow