Coming two years after the Big Lebowski, four years after Kingpin, this is a kids attempt at cashing in the attraction of bowling.
East and West Appleton have a long standing sporting rivalry that's gone on for decades. Each year they have gone up against each other in just about every sport that each has a team for, but for some reason the two schools are going to become one, meaning that this year is the last "Big Apple". The two mayors keep upping the ante over who wins, not helped by West Appletons mayor also being the father of their star player, who's helped them win at pretty much every main stream sport, until East Appleton proposes bowling and he has to team up with the losers - "Only losers bowl," - to win the big prize.
Add to that, a connection between the Mayor and the bowling alley owner and a gradual change in the lead bowlers (who's also the bowling alley owners son) attitude, it's a standard Disney feel good film that fills all the tick boxes.
The music is of an era, the 50's vibe adds to the relaxed vibe the losers have, while there are no chase scenes, so the camera work is pretty standard point and shoot.
It took me ten minutes to realise that was Kaley Cuoco - it is two years before 8 Simple Rules - and it was funny that Mimi Paleys first acting credit was playing a young Buffy the Vampire Slayer, considering the roles Cuoco would go onto.
The main characters - Kyle Schmid (Alex Thompson) and Robert Ri'chard (Todd McLemore) and basically 90's kids, even if Kyle has such an affinity with the 50's, but the dialogue is stilted at times as they try to make the premise of a bowling match being so important to a town, though as other reviews have said; the bowling technique could have done with some work, and did they actually finish the last match?
A fun, very child friendly film, with a good message and obvious story line.
Review of Alley Cats Strike
