Rebound

A fundamentally unappealing jerk whose redemption comeswith an even shorter and less convincing story arc, coach Roy McCormickignores the kids one day -- pouting about his downfall on the sidelinesas they lose a game 84-0 -- then the next he's become a life-affirmingaltruist full of feel-good advice and game-winning strategy, just becausethe script says so.

Even more problematic is that while "Rebound"is aimed at children, the one-trait tweenagers he's teaching to play thegame are barely characters at all, save Tara Correa ("Judging Amy")as a stout, scowling girl bully McCormick recruits to intimidate otherteams. "You got five fouls," he advises her with a wiseacre wink."Don't be afraid to use 'em."

Somehow this sloppy, mechanical movie (even the minimalgame scenes lack vibrancy) manages to dig up some energy and spirit inthe last act, which keeps it from collapsing under the weight of its ownineptitude. Kids may like it, not knowing enough to recognize its failureto relate to them, and accompanying parents won't want to claw their eyesout.

But it's clear that while Carr ("DaddyDay Care") seems comfortable with Lawrence'sutter insincerity as an actor, when he has real talent right in front ofhim, he doesn't know what to do with it. "Rebound" co-stars MeganMullally ("Will and Grace") and Patrick Warburton (best knownas Puddy from "Seinfeld"), but they're completely wasted in rolesas a near-humorless school principal and a blandly bellicose rival coach.