Title: A Little Game
Arc Entertainment
Director: Evan Oppenheimer
Writer: Evan Oppenheimer
Cast: Ralph Macchio, Janeane Garofalo, F. Murray Abraham, Rachel Dratch, Olympia Dukakis, Makenna Ballard
Running Time: 91 minutes, Rated PG
Special Features: Behind the Scenes; Bloopers; Trailer
Available on DVD: January 20th, 2015

Max (Makenna Ballard)  is a 10 year old girl and the smartest kid in her school. Her parents (Ralph Macchio & Janeane Garofalo) want their oldest daughter to attend an all-girls private school to better her education, so they work themselves almost to death to pay the tuition. Meanwhile Max is unhappy leaving her friends behind, being bullied by the rich girls because her father is a maintenance man and then her beloved Yaya (Olympia Dukakis) dies.  Her teacher suggests she join the chess club, so she can make friends and interact with the smart kids, but she doesn’t know how to play and nobody is willing to teach her. Walking home through the park, she meets a professional chess player named Norman (F. Murray Abraham), who is reluctant at first and gives her a hard time about being a teacher. Max insists and wins him over. He shows her the way to play chess is by staying true to herself and home. Max takes his instruction to heart and knows how to beat the school bully at chess.

The Good: Low budget, cutesy family film. It’s safe to watch with the family and safe enough to watch alone, but the film will be kind of boring to the little children – even though there is a scene of an imaginary tea-party with the sisters as princesses, and that scene will be too cheesy for the older kids.  Janeane Garofalo and Ralph Macchio portray loving parents and had good chemistry. They look very comfortable together, though they do seem like “old” parents. Maybe it’s because I’m getting up there myself, but they were an odd choice for the parents, but they work well.  F. Murray Abraham was also likeable as the old codger chess guru.

The Bad: It’s sappy and full of metaphors.  They got Rachel Dratch to play Max’s aunt, but they underutilized her acting and character. You don’t get a notable name to play such a throwaway part. The narration was unnecessary. I almost felt like saying “Dude, shut up. I’m trying to watch a movie.” Ghost of Grandma Yaya showing up every so often to spout thick Greek-accented old-timey cliche wisdom on her grieving granddaughter was an eye-roller.

I think maybe  the filmmakers were hoping this will be a girls version of Searching for Bobby Fischer, but there’s not enough  drama or chess tutorial in the film. I was kind of hoping the parents would’ve been more involved in their daughter’s interest in chess. It’s mostly a story of an exceptional child who goes along with her parents wishes to get a better education, even though she’s happy in the public school and doesn’t want her parents to struggle for her benefit. Their kid was miserable at her new school and her parents were killing themselves for her to be that miserable. There’s kind of a message there for parents to make sure your kid is on board with change, rather than force it upon them.

Acting: B
Story: C
Technical: C
Total Rating: C+
Reviewed by: JM Willis