From director Bobby Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary), Champions is a heartwarming story about beating the odds and betting on the underdogs. The sports comedy reunites star Woody Harrelson with the hilarious Cheech Marin, best known as half of the counterculture classic duo, Cheech & Chong, with Tommy Chong. For the first time since their roles in Sam Shepherd’s play, The Late Henry Moss, Harrelson and Marin join forces in their first feature film together.
In Champions, after falling from grace, former minor-league basketball coach Marcus Marakovich (Harrelson) lands himself into more hot water after causing a fender-bender. In court, Marcus is given community service that aligns with his expertise; the judge offers Marcus the opportunity to coach a team of adults with intellectual disabilites. Though he’s reluctant, Marcus works alongside Julio (Marin) to get his team of nonprofessional players, aka the Friends, to the Special Olympics finals with the intent to earn his spot in the NBA again. The cast features a crew of brand-new faces that play the talented Friends, as well as Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters).
During his interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Marin promises “all surprises in this movie,” which he describes as “uplifting” with a “big romance in the middle.” He talks about getting to improv with Woody Harrelson, his experience working with the Friends, the chemistry between Harrelson and Olson, and the impact his films with Tommy Chong had in the ‘70s and ‘80s. He also suggests audiences should check Champions out when it hits theaters on March 10.
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