Double Teamed

The Disney Channel takes the court in 2002 with a movie based on the real-life Burge sisters, 6’5” twins whose basketball skills that let them to professional basketball with the WNBA.

Mark Sachs of LA Times said in his review, “Disney, which pioneered the twin-blond-teens concept back in 1961 by cloning Hayley Mills in The Parent Trap, had a bigger casting challenge in Double Teamed.” The protagonists would have to be very tall, good players and look exactly alike.

The producers decided on Poppi Monroe (From CBS miniseries “The Last Don”) as Heather and Annie McElwain (7^th Heaven) as Heidi. Sachs noted, “A crash course in basketball, platform shoes and dyed hair extensions took care of the rest.” Despite them not being identical twins, they at least look like they could be sisters.

Sachs said, “The paint-by-the-numbers movie piles on the sports cliches as ably as any male-oriented sports flick, and like such paintings, examining the finished product too closely spoils some of the fun.”

The story centers on Dad’s (Nick Searcy) rather un-centered efforts to obtain college sports scholarships for his girls in any way, despite of the campaign’s effect on their happiness. Mom, played by Mackenzie Phillips, mainly is there as the referee during the family fights.

Sachs mentioned, “The desperate scholarship push seems a trifle odd inasmuch as the girls are barely in their freshman year of high school, but chronic money concerns compel the family to make many decisions.”

For the girls, there are rich yet jealous teammates to compete with, along with unfortunate injuries and some sibling rivalry.

However, there is no need to worry because there is a happy; Disney-style ending is a win.

I remember seeing parts of this movie when I was a kid, and the parts that I saw, I really enjoyed it. When I finally watched the entire movie a few months back, I actually found myself really liking this movie and thinking this was something that everyone could watch. It’s a good sports movie for kids and I think everyone should watch it. Only downside is that it was released on VHS, but is now available on Disney+. If anyone was a Disney+ account, check it out and see for yourself.

Check in tomorrow where I look at a mediocre film in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”