FILMS X JENI’S: Air
I really want a pair of Air Jordans now.
On paper, this is not a movie I would traditionally be drawn towards. I really enjoy sports and I love attending a good game, but the technicalities and history behind them aren’t exactly what I would consider the most riveting plot devices in film. That being said, I will watch anything with Jason Bateman in it.
Maybe it was the top-of-the-line cast (Viola Davis, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck - I mean come on) or perhaps the fact that the story revolved around shoes, but I actually was highly engaged in this the entire time. In a nutshell, it’s about Nike’s attempts to secure Michael Jordan as the new face of their basketball line in order to save the struggling company. Given that the events of this take place almost 40 years ago and we know the ultimate outcome of the story, it would have been incredibly easy for this to be a snooze fest since we know the stakes of failure were evaded by history. However, I was right there with them in every ounce of stress and anxiety they were feeling. Will Michael agree to see them? Will Nike lose their basketball division? What did Jason Bateman’s character wish for for his birthday? Even though I knew all the answers, I still was on the edge of my seat trying to see them to fruition (except Jason’s birthday wish; the world may never know).
It also was just incredibly informational which I suppose is to be expected of a story that’s based off of historical events, but I don’t think I even knew that going into it. I watched this for the actors, but I walked away with so much knowledge about the history of Nike and 80’s basketball shoe brands. Maybe I just completely missed the day in history class where we learned about all of this stuff, but I had no idea that Adidas was a top competitor for basketball shoes in the 80’s; I thought Converse rose to popularity due to boys who wore them with cuffed jeans in the 50’s, not because they were the top selling basketball shoe. Perhaps not the most useful knowledge to have, but who says everything you know has to be useful? (probably some philosopher)
I also would be remiss to not point out how strong the writing was for Viola Davis’s character as Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris. Had this movie been made 20 years ago, she very likely would not have been featured as such an integral part of the story as she was today, and it was something I was very glad to see. It was a wonderful utilization of her acting prowess and an appropriate way to spotlight one of the only female roles.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It’s a particular kind of headspace I have to be in to want to watch a movie on the history of a sports brand, but that was just the kind of mood I was in. The particulars as to how accurate the movie is and what kind of dramatic liberties it took I’ll allow you to do your own research on, but just in terms of entertainment value, it’s a really solid movie. It left me with a smile on my face and inspiration in my heart (and a desire to go buy a pair of Jordans).
Interesting side note: I was shocked when I saw this movie on Amazon prime after it was released in theatres just over a month earlier. The reasoning for this? This is technically an Amazon produced movie, but they tried out a new method of release for this one which meant that it had an exclusively theatrical release across the U.S. on April 5th, and then proceeded to be available to stream about 6 weeks later. I thought this was a clever middle ground for the theatrical vs. streaming release debate, but maybe I’m just a nerd.
Would I watch it again? Yes
Tear level: A dry eye friendly movie
Watch when: you’re in the mood for a good sports movie or to see these particular actors work their magic
Soundtrack/score: I don’t remember the underscoring if there was one, but the soundtrack itself is a banger; really cleverly interwoven and one I would listen to on the daily - perhaps on a good run.
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The Jeni’s Pairing
This one is really straight-forward: a single scoop of Green Mint Chip in a bowl with a waffle crisp. This isn’t for lack of complexity or because this movie was basic - it was neither of those things. Green Mint Chip simply is the essence of this movie in a way I can’t really explain. Maybe it’s because there’s something about that flavor that says 80’s to me the same way Girl Scouts and Thin Mints do (even though all of these things were conceived prior to the 80’s) or perhaps it’s just because this is the flavor I most imagine perfectly enhancing my viewing experience. Somehow it says “I’m cool, but I still mean business,” just like this movie.
MORE ON THE FLAVORS:
Green Mint Chip is all the cool peppermint cream and crunchy mint chocolate chip you remember, but better than it ever was. We scent sweet cream ice cream with a natural peppermint essential oil for a cool mint finish you can taste and feel. It’s the perfect complement to dark chocolate morsels made with Fair Trade cocoa beans. The vibrant green hue is all-natural, too, made with a leaf called spirulina, and juice from whole fruits and vegetables.
