‘AIR’ Review: A Winsome, Absolutely Winning Crowd-Pleaser

Courtney Howard // Film Critic

AIR

Rated R, 1 hour and 52 minutes

Directed by: Ben Affleck

Starring: Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina, Viola Davis, Chris Tucker, Matthew Maher

One crucial element to a resonant “sports film” is the human interest story. AIR director Ben Affleck and screenwriter Alex Convery blessedly don’t fashion a corporate hagiography, but instead a compelling portrait of events that shaped a company. Their refreshing twist on the true-life tale of people who believed they could redefine basketball, not just on the court, but through licensing deals, delivers a winning, winsome package. It’s a feel-good underdog sports movie with harried Nike employees in lieu of underestimated players, filled with gobs of heart and gumption.

The year is 1984 and the lines between celebrity and commerce are overlapping in astronomical ways. Nike basketball talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is scouring the country, looking for the next big player who’d be willing to sport his employer’s sneakers on the court. As evidenced by Sonny’s penchant for gambling, betting on sports and casino games, this is a man who survives, coasting through life shouldering his fair share of big risks. However, Sonny decides to shoot his shot when up-and-coming superstar Michael Jordan catches his eye. If he can convince his hard-headed boss Phil Knight (Affleck, in a pristinely permed wig) and their cautious head of marketing Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) to invest their entire budget on one player, rather than three, it’ll be a slam dunk. Yet, as Vice President of Basketball Relations Howard White (Chris Tucker) advises, they need to get the most important person on board first.

That force of nature isn’t Michael Jordan, but his protective mother Deloris (Viola Davis), and she’s determined to get the best deal for her son. He’s begun to make a name for himself with his iconic moves and innate talent and is being courted by multiple shoe companies. Since Nike’s competition – Converse and Adidas – has cornered the market on shoes that basketball superstars love, they’re preparing for an uphill battle with only a modest budget as their armament. But their secret weapon isn’t solely the radical, legendary shoe created specifically for their potential client, but Sonny’s delivery of this film’s all-timer of a “coach speech” in the boardroom, perfectly landed by Damon.

In place of a traditional score for this era of excess, Affleck drops the needle on 80s chart-toppers (everyone from Dire Straits to ZZ Top) and moody instrumentals (from Tangerine Dream’s film scores to, of all things, pieces from RAW DEAL, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN and BEVERLY HILLS COP II). It’s a risky choice, much like those of his main protagonist, and it pays off in subtle dividends. It enhances the drive of the narrative while also providing unspoken dialogue for the characters and their internal conflicts. Affleck’s flick vibes on the same tonal scale as MONEYBALL, replete with a war room scene where they argue over preferred players, and JERRY MAGUIRE, utilizing not only a song from that film (by His Name Is Still Alive) and interstitials using business speak, but also a cameo by Jay Mohr playing an advisor to Adidas.

Choosing to not feature a young Michael Jordan in a film about his game-changing shoe deal is yet another risk Affleck and company take, and it pays off as well. They’re able to retain the necessary focus on both Sonny and Deloris’ courage and confidence to revolutionize the business. Still, when his presence is needed, actor Damian Delano Young’s physicality provides what little likeness they use.

Weaving multiple story threads into this film’s fabric adds another layer of fascination, and the actors are game for the challenge. Damon and Davis conjure palpable energy whether they’re on the phone together (a credit to editor William Goldenberg’s sublime skills) or face-to-face in the backyard or boardroom. Damon and Affleck’s scenes give the film a sensational swagger. Messina, as Jordan’s arrogant lawyer David Falk, finds a playful, comedic rhythm to his cutting banter with Damon. Matthew Maher, as Air Jordan shoe designer extraordinaire Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans, as Sonny’s friend/ Jordan’s assistant coach George Raveling, also find moments to shine in their supporting roles.

Grade: A

AIR opens on April 5 in theaters.