“The Legend of Bagger Vance” stars Matt Damon, Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and co-stars Bruce McGill, Joel Gretsch, and J. Michael Moncrief. It’s directed by the legendary Robert Redford and based on a novel written by Steven Pressfield.

Rannulph Junah (Matt Damon) is known as the greatest golfer in Savannah, Georgia but, after fifteen years of fighting in the First World War, he returns to Savannah a changed man. A drunk, careless man who lost his “Swing”. Now, with the help of a mysterious caddy named Bagger Vance (Will Smith), Junah will remember how to swing and the meaning of life.

Will Smith plays a character who is almost constantly beaming and every sentence sounds like it came from a fortune cookie. This doesn’t stop this movie from being an undeniably entertaining golf drama. An inspirational film that captures the life of a man who is determined to get back his life playing the game he loves the most. Director Robert Redford is an expert at making these sappy yet inspirational dramas into a movie that can easily be watched more than once. The story is well narrated by Jack Lemmon, who has that perfected tone for narration.

Matt Damon give a miraculous performance. Will Smith does a good job at making a character that you know is cheesy into a very likable character. The score has your usual enlightening melodies that come with movies like “The Natural” and “Field of Dreams”. You know, the type that give you goosebumps and brings tears to your eyes. This is a very uplifting movie. The characters are only acceptable considering they are from a novel. This may be the best golf drama that I have seen, due to the fact that I am not a fan to “Tin Cup” or golf for that matter.

It deserves a look. The script is what really makes this movie pleasant, even if it is a little mushy at times. “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is chalk full of witty and meaningful dialog, usually served up by the walking, talking fortune cookie Bagger Vance. This is a good, but not great film that may only get praised due to the first-class direction and the well written script. Most of these inspirational flicks don’t go too well for me, but this one is an exception.

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