Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Tin Cup

Reviewed by: Annie Tolliver
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Romance Comedy Drama
Length:
Year of Release: 1996
USA Release: August 16, 1996
Featuring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johson, Cheech Marin
Director
Producer New Regency Productions
Gary Foster
David V. Lester (David Lester)
Distributor
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures. Trademark logo.
Warner Bros. Pictures
, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company

Even if you are not an avid golfer, you will enjoy this movie. A small town driving-range pro, Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy (Kevin Costner) has all the potential to be a great player, but he lacks discipline and motivation, untill the beautiful, witty Dr. Molly Griswold (Rene Russo) comes into his life. Unfortunalty she is the love interest of McAvoy’s old college rival, David Simms (Don Johnson), now a very sucessful pro.

In order to prove he is not just a small town flunky to the woman he loves, he sets out to win the U.S. Open, a measure that will require self discipline and smart game tactics, rather than going for the spectacular play—something McAvoy is not used to doing.

Ron Sheldon (director and co-writer) has once again provided a vehicle for Kevin Costner that reminds us of why he is such a star. Tin Cup has been heralded as the “Bull Durham” of golf—and it is. However, this is not a “sports” movie—it’s a boy/girl movie. Romantic comedy at its best. Johnson, cast against type, gives a wonderful portrayal of the guy you love to hate, and Russo is delightful as a funny, quirky champion for the underdog. Cheech Marin proves he is not just “one of those two funny guys” (Cheech and Chong) by lending an excellent supporting role as McAvoy’s sidekick, caddy and confidant Romeo Posar.

From a Christian perspective, all I can say is that if Jesus were here on Earth today, Roy and his friends would be the kind of guys that I think He would have hung out with. The movie itself contains a lot of four letter words, and some scantilly clad dancers in one scene. The love scene between Roy and Molly is fairly tame by Hollywood standards, but may be offensive to some.

In this reviewer’s opinion “Tin Cup” is just a good, romantic, fun movie, with a moral: i.e., if you want to be a success you must excercise self discipline and wisdom, but don’t become so encroached in caution that you miss your miracle.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
This movie was like a roller coaster: some parts I held my breath through, as I thoroughly enjoyed the rest. I laughed and laughed, watching his friends support “Tin Cup,” seeing him play a round w/o clubs, seeing him time and again set himself up for failure, watching lessons for the “girlfriend and DYING while watching his practice shots during the warm up!!!. ROFL [Roll on the Floor Laughing!] His fatal flaws were not concealed at all. I agree with you about Jesus hanging out with this crew. This crew was “cheers” on the green. The language was excessive and the nudity unnecessary. I believe the disciples were a lot like this crew: rowdy, lively, crude but a load of fun.
Ron, 52
…I can’t believe (the) positive review of this film. My husband and I rented this movie after reading this review and were shocked at what we heard and saw in the first 20-25 minutes. In that time, God/Christ’s name was misused 10 times, and there were no less than 30 obscenities including the “F” word and at least 2-3 sexual inuendos. Not to mention the so-called “scantilly clad dressers” which were really frontal nudity shots of this dancer. “Scantilly clad—my foot!!! This reviewer needs a pair of glasses!! No bones about it—TIN CUP is inappropriate… Where is our ability to be offended by what Jesus would be offended by? These reviewers need to ask this question: “Would Jesus watch this movie?” …I am so disappointed.
Teri Pflederer
Jesus did not “hang around” with anyone except his disciples. When he was with sinners, it was to tell them to repent. …A decent plot does not negate flagrant sin in a movie.
Pamela R, age 35