Most people probably didn’t have Most Valuable Players on their must see list of films at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival. Originally I didn’t plan on seeing the film, but a reader requested that I write a review for it because he is a “GLEEK” as he put it. I want to say thank you for the request and I’m very pleased I saw the documentary directed by Matthew Kallis.
Most Valuable Players is a documentary that follows three out of 27 high school musical programs in Pennsylvania and their road to the “Freddy” awards. The Freddy Awards is a high school version of Broadway’s Tony Awards, that is broadcasted live across the state of Pennsylvania. The film explains how high school musicals are just as competitive, physical and emotional as high school sports, but yet it doesn’t receive the same respect or budget as high school sports.
Being an ex high school athlete and a member of the show choir, they are very different worlds. The film is very interesting because viewers get to learn how they created the Freddy awards and how this one event has revolutionized an entire state’s music program. This is a huge event in Pennsylvania and they go all out for it. The three competing schools: Freedom, Emmaus and Parkland, plan all year long for one musical and hope they receive nominations for various Freddy awards. Emmaus and Parkland both put on their version of “Le Miserables” while Freedom High does a rendition of “Bye Bye Birdie“.
Overall the film is very enjoyable especially if you are a fan of high school musicals or you participated in them when you were in high school. The one issue I had with the film is that it turns from this “Happy go lucky” film about kids doing something they love and are passionate about, to a very sad and depressing story about one of the events directors, Vic Kumma, being diagnosed with cancer. I understand why this was in the film and I respect the film makers for giving Vic this tribute. My only issue with this was that the film is suppose to be a family friendly film and I felt this was a little too dark for some. I know for a fact there were a ton of people (kids included) crying when this was taking place on screen.
As far as distribution is concerned about the film, I don’t think it will be released in theaters nation wide. Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network has recently purchased the distribution rights to the film and she will be airing it on the network some time this year along with other documentaries.
Rating: Good documentary about a topic not discussed by many, but a little depressing in the end. (6/10)
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