A 30-something urbanite is pulled back to his rural hometown by his high school buddies on Thanksgiving to finish The Turkey Bowl – an epic football game against their cross-town rivals that was snowed out fifteen years prior.
Greg Coolidge directs and co-writes (along with Kirk Ward) “The Turkey Bowl,” a somewhat familiar tale about reliving high school glory days in a small town. Ryan Hansen stars as Patrick Hodges, a successful marketing executive in Chicago about to be engaged to Ashley Sinclair (Blair Bomar), daughter of a U.S. Senator (Sean McGraw) who soon announces his candidacy for president.
Under false pretenses, Hodges’ old Putnam Badger teammates lure the former quarterback home, employing a wide range of tactics in order to convince him to play the second half of a tied, snowed-out game fifteen years back. The motley crew, headed by Mitchell (Matt Jones), persistently attempts to rekindle long lost friendships, more than a decade dormant, by finally finishing the unresolved Turkey Bowl.
For both good and ill, time took its toll on the participants of the fateful contest. Because of their better record, the Noble Knights represented the district in the playoffs and went on to win the state championship. As a result, the city of Noble’s stature steadily increased over the decade-plus since, while Putnam’s faded into relative obscurity.
A strong cast of character actors works well together to relate a moving and amusing story about small-town life. Kristen Hager shines as Jen, Hodges’ old girlfriend and former cheerleading captain. Her endearing presence throughout begs the question of why Hodges would abruptly leave with hardly a goodbye or return visit during the interim.
Scenes reminiscent of earlier raucous comedies abound such as “Old School” and “American Pie.” Partly this occurs because, in such hamlets, everyone knows everybody else’s business – a refrain awkwardly and humorously reinforced in scene after scene.
As an element of the grand plan, Hodges and his buddies rescue their old high school coach (Barry Switzer) from a nursing home, thus breathing some life back into his otherwise irrelevant existence. In the lead up to the climactic finale, Switzer incessantly quizzes team member and Putnam Fire Chief (Bruce Davis) at all hours of the night about whether it’s game time yet.
Hodges’ dad played by Brett Cullen may constitute the most familiar face in a fine cast of less well-known performers. John Beasley as Judge Tibbins further abets the Turkey Bowl scheme by sentencing Hodges to serve 30 days in the municipal jail if he refuses to try to rewrite history.
Alan Ritchson weighs in as opposing quarterback and successful local real estate developer Ronnie Best. Along with his twin sister Brandy (Leah McKendrick), the two actors deliver hilarious over the top performances that nearly steal the show. At every turn, they gleefully torment a decidedly unrepentant Hodges, each in their own way.
The film touches on a host of traditional themes regarding true love and friendship, all of which carry the narrative suitably enough. Immediately recognizable musical choices enhance the emotional punch as well. Generously sprinkled with crude sexual humor, “The Turkey Bowl” offers a poor man’s version of “Sweet Home Alabama” – albeit with the genders reversed – providing for a most enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon.
Now available on DVD
