Popcorn for One: Champions (2023)

 Last night's Regal Mystery Movie was Champions (2023) with Woody Harrelson and Kaitlin Olson. This is a remake of the Spanish film, Campeones (2018).

Marcus, a former professional basketball coach, has lost a number of past positions due to his bad temper. He's currently asst. coach for a minor league team but is fired after a DUI arrest. Also, his assault on the head coach has gone viral thanks to an ESPN video. He is given the choice of 18 months in prison or 90 days of community service, coaching a basketball team of intellectually disabled adults.

The young actors all do have disabilities and are wonderful in their roles. Several of them have backstories that are discussed in the film, yet it's the friendships and affection for each other that make us grow fond of them. The movie was made with the cooperation of the Special Olympics.

I haven't seen the original Spanish film, but if you watch the trailer (available on IMDB.com) you'll see that director Bobby Farrelly (both Dumb and Dumber films, There's Something About Mary) has taken some scenes from the original film, with minor changes. Not knocking him, as those scenes are very funny and the audience I was with was laughing.

The ending is a bit different than I had expected, but still a delight. Also, we get to see the cast enjoying themselves during the credits and there is a brief, what appears to be, brief outtake post credit. Plus, while he doesn't have a big role, it's always nice to see Cheech Marin.