Trophy Kids (2013) Reviews

• Sick, hateful parents captured in their sport fanatic splendor

  jim-538872016-01-08

  One of the most disturbing films I've ever seen about our sports-centric culture. I think even VInce Lombardi would say there is no victory in the tragic American families portrayed in this documentary. The filmmakers do a superb job of capturing candid moments of very twisted adults pretending to do what's best for their children. One blames it on God's will, and the rest are simply out for a scholarship or a Tiger Woods payday. The bottom line is not one of them is a competent parent, nor are they raising individuals who will be very beneficial to society. The day these poor kids are put on the bench, or miss a put, or drop a pass they will lose their purpose in life, according to their parents. No kidding. You have to see this film, and realize these middle class adults naively allowed their misguided and myopic behavior to be fully documented, to appreciate how out of touch these parents are with reality.

• Some of the worst parents in America

  cafesmitty2015-02-08

  So I saw this and it was making me very upset at the parents. This documentary is about parents who live through their children's sports accomplishments and how the parents try to push their dreams on their kid. You have a divorce father, who just berates his son as he watches over every aspect of his son's football life. He absolutely destroys his son's self esteem. You have another father who believes that if he gets his son the right type of things to eat, his son will grow taller. He doesn't so much get on his son's case (basketball dad), he curses at the coach, bad mouths other players (on and off his son's team) Another father, whose son plays on the same team, he is a little more calm at the game but if very underhanded himself You have the worst of the bunch, a father who is trying to push his 7 year old (or 8 year) old daughter into being the next Tiger Woods. He actually calls his daughter names. And he makes disparaging remarks about another race. And you have an over educated, over thinking mother, who has twin boys and she is pushing them into tennis. But she uses the excuse of this is what GOD wants from them. And they are nothing more than a microcosm representation of a larger issue... the Parent who feel the need to live vicariously through their children and who seem to be having a second life renaissance by abusing the youth of their offspring. As if parental ability (basically the ability to biology create a kid) give them the right to do whatever the heck they want to do. And on the faces of these kids you can see how miserable they are pretty much. The type of pressure put on these kids result in the kids either commenting suicide or taking it out on others.. And these parents are completely blind in seeing this. Very interesting documentary.

• Bad Parenting at Its Finest -- or Worst

  kathleenmcbrair2016-01-11

  This was a really hard one to rate as it's difficult to cut through the content, which is so disturbing. Whether preaching God or manhood, these parents completely lost the plot of life, which is our obligation to our children rather than some distorted obligation for them to validate us. Even the twins' mother, with her psychology background, over-thought and over-talked everything, completely ignorant of the fact that her kids have become numbed out -- ultimately, no better than the featured parents who are openly abusive to their children. Less than halfway in, I wondered how many of these kids would succumb to substance abuse or suicide. Ian's father was the only parent in whom I saw a glimmer of hope for redemption, but there seemed to be a decline towards the end. I did not find Coach Meier likable or sincere, but his words were correct -- this is abuse. Blaming a coach for your child's athletic "failure" (and Ian is far from a failure) teaches lack of personal responsibility, acceptance of reality and lack of acceptance of the child, no matter how they excel -- there is no pleasing these parents in the end. Amari's father even said as much -- he's proud of her but "can't" tell her. But you have to consider the source given he lamented that you can no longer beat children without being arrested. This documentary would serve well in custody suits, but in a few of these cases, the mothers are conspicuously absent. I suspect they are as repressed as the kids, but I can't muster up much sympathy for mothers who stand by while their kids are being tortured by men who have clearly never matured into reality. There was no child for whom I didn't feel strongly in this documentary, but Justus in particular struck me. I was (conditionally) relieved to hear that he left his father, but this kid can't catch a break. He was again cast into the responsibility role with his mother's illness, a woman who apparently has never put much thought into the fathers she has provided to her children. I hope that Justus will channel his sensitivity and life experience into a career that involves helping others. He is clearly suited for such a path in life, and I hope he comes to recognize sports as recreational and not a definition of manhood -- something his father certainly has distorted. I wish these kids all the best and that they can overcome their unfortunate parentage.

• It's hard to imagine these parents wouldn't feel embarrassed to have the world see them and their god-awful parenting!

  MartinHafer2016-01-09

  Rarely have I been angrier than when I watched this documentary. The film is about some kids who have parents who are the ultimate helicopter sports parents--parents who insist their children MUST succeed and at any cost. What will you see in this film? Well, several parents use threats of physical abuse to motivate their little athletes. All of them use emotional blackmail and emotional abuse (though the mother of the tennis players wasn't as bad in this respect) and literally have robbed their children of childhoods. And again and again, it's shocking that these parents haven't had their kids taken away from them and the schools have often caved in to their bullying. It is not an exaggeration that these parents are among the most vile you could imagine. After all, a crack-addicted parent could blame crappy parenting on the drug but these parents have no such excuse. Okay, it's obvious the film created a huge emotional reaction within me. But what about the technical merits? Well, when the film began I noticed that the camera-work was simply awful--and the camera bounced around as if it was using a monkey cam. Fortunately, it DOES get better...so stick with it. My only question, though, is how could the filmmakers watch all this abuse and not get involved? Sure, I know they wanted to make a film but there also comes a point where you'd think they'd have a responsibility to take their material to Children's Services. By the way, if you want to watch a film that touches on SOME of this but offers a much wider range of parenting and the children's enjoyment of the game, try "The Short Game". And, incidentally, one of the vilest parents is in BOTH films. Overall, I'd say the film is good despite some technical glitches because it DOES get your attention and hold it. But it also is VERY frustrating because the viewer REALLY wants to know what's happened to these poor kids.

• Uncomfortable to watch at times...

  pattymayo-891772016-01-27

  Seriously, it was getting uncomfortable to watch Golf Dad pouting all over the course after every single shot his daughter hit. that guy is a complete scumbag. Can't believe some of the things he calls his daughter.. "wait until you get in the car." You've gotta think their is some physical abuse going on at home too.. he even implied in that one scene when he's getting up from the golf cart that he wishes it was the 70s again where it was 'acceptable' to beat up your kids. Seriously felt like this guy is just banking on his daughter becoming a pro one day and he can mooch off her winnings the rest of his life. Hope that scumbag gets what he deserves. And what was with the basketball dads? How delusional could they be thinking their scrawny little barely 6 feet tall white kids have any chance of playing D1 basketball? Was hilarious to me when that Cal Poly all black team just came in and ran them out of the gym. It's one thing to be a nut case sports dad when your kid actually has a special talent, but these white kids are simply average players who have no chance at D1 basketball, let alone becoming a pro one day. Tennis Mom was creepy, though I found it interesting how she really didn't even pay much attention when her kids were playing tennis. Too busy babbling about Jesus to the director, numerous times where she all of a sudden says "oh that was match point!" like she was not paying attention to the score at all. Football dad was insane, that scene in the car with the kids mother driving didn't even seem real. His thought process is so warped it felt fake that he actually believes the stuff he says. Coach Meier was awesome though, loved everything he said. Spot on. Would recommend watching but prepare to be disgusted and angry at the end.