I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO be a long day, but I needed the continuing education credits to renew my fitness certification. When I signed up, I could not believe we had to be ready to start at 7:30am. The end was set at 5pm, with forty-five minutes for lunch. The schedule started with a lecture, followed by a workshop, then another lecture before the lunchbreak. Gratefully, we were to have another lecture after lunch because I am not one who can eat and immediately afterwards exert myself physically. Trust me, it would not be a pretty sight. My hope was for the class to end early. When I walked into the hotel’s conference ballroom, I looked for an empty chair. As I was walking down the aisle, I heard my name being called out. Turning towards the sound I looked out and saw a friend of mine was waving me over to them. We taught at the same fitness center; but ironically, did not see much of each other during working hours because I taught night classes, and she did day ones. However, we still formed a bond because we started at the same time and hit it off immediately. Whenever we had a staff meeting, we would get together, just the two of us, before or after to catch up with one another. I was grateful and happy she was at this event.      IT IS FUNNY HOW I WAS dreading the day, spending it cooped up in a hotel conference ballroom because now the time was flying by as the two of us kept each other company. During the workouts when the facilitator asked us to pair up, the two of us would do it together. Each of us had an easiness with the other, where nothing ever felt uncomfortable; even the “hands on” portions where we would either support a portion of the other’s body/limb or correct a position/alignment of muscle joints. Before I knew it, the lunch break arrived and the two of us found a secluded corner of the lobby where we could sit and eat in peace. With us talking and laughing the lunch break only seemed like it was a couple of minutes before we were due back in class.  The lecture portion gave me the time to sit and digest my lunch; so, I was prepared for the final workout which was tough. We made it through to the end and hugged each other before we left. It was great seeing and participating with her; it made the day feel fun for me. And that is the reason I can see why the four friends in this biographical drama did not want to go it alone when it came to basketball.      CHILDHOOD FRIENDS KNEW BY STICKING TOGETHER they could accomplish more on the court than if they went it alone. The truth was in the results. With newcomer Marquis Mookie Cook as LeBron James, Wood Harris (Creed franchise, Empire-TV) as Coach Dru Joyce II, Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Scream VI) as Keith Dambrot, Caleb McLaughlin (Concrete Cowboy, Stranger Things-TV) as Lil Dru Joyce III and Natalie Paul (Either Side of Midnight, The Prophecy-TV) as Gloria James; this story based on true events surprised me because I did not know LeBron’s history. I found the script was fun and the basketball playing scenes were exciting. Whether the events shown were true or not, I did not know; but my interest was kept throughout the movie. With that being said, there was not much variance in the drama, nor was there anything different compared to other films in this genre. I do not consider myself a basketball fan; however, I know how the game is played and have seen a few. This was an easy, nothing out of the ordinary sports film that wound up providing me with a back story to a man I have only seen snippets of on television. 

2 ¼ stars