“Kicking and Screaming” **** (out of five)

“Kicking and Screaming” is a funny movie. Phil Weston (Will Ferrel) is a soccer-dad trying ever-so-hard to be the perfect father, while at the same time trying to win his own father’s (Robert Duvall) approval.

When his son is “traded” from the soccer team that “Buck” (Duvall) coaches, Phil is disappointed in his father’s ethics, but is relived that now, maybe, his boy will finally get to come off the bench and get playing time. The coach from the new team disappears, however, and Phil volunteers to fill his shoes.

Soon, he’s gone from easy-going soccer coach, to bona fide psychotic, after having been introduced to the drug that is coffee, by super-coach, Mike Ditka, who plays himself.

Ditka signs on to help Phil “get even” with Buck, because the two are sworn enemies, but in the process Phil learns a lot about coaching from the famed coach. He eventually goes overboard, of course, but only long enough for a lot of opportunities for laughs to be presented.

Ferrel, of course, is side-splittingly funny, and the film is just plain family fun.

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LaylaClark is a Pendleton cosmetologist and part time cosmetology instructor