Review: LeBron James' story goes Hollywood as Peacock streams 'Shooting Stars'

For Akronites and fans of LeBron James and his story, “Shooting Stars,” based on the book he co-authored with Buzz Bissinger, will offer some charms.

But the movie, which streams on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s service, beginning Friday, June 2, is ultimately hamstrung by a television screen-sized budget and a split personality.

Screenwriters Frank E. Flowers, Tony Rettenmaier and Juel Taylor along with director Chris Robinson deserve credit for starting down an unexpected path through James’ formative years as a basketball phenom in Akron.

They opt to tell a story of friendship from the perspective of Dru Joyce III (played in the movie by Caleb McLaughlin) and bring to light a story written about by Nate Ulrich in the Beacon Journal recently.

While James would ultimately blossom into the player many thought he would, he wasn’t the impetus for the Fab Four (James, Joyce, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee) to go to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School where James’ legend was made.

It was in fact Joyce III not wanting his high school career to begin on the junior varsity at Buchtel High School who led his friends to the Irish, much to the chagrin of Griffins fans. Teammate Romeo Travis would join them at St. V-M. How ironic that James will be enshrined in the Akron Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame this fall as a special contributor.

Note the move was genuinely about friendship – friends who had been together since the age of 10 not wanting to be separated once they arrived at the high school level.

After 20 years of James’ superstardom and surpassing the unholy expectations foisted upon him since being named “The Chosen One” on the cover of “Sports Illustrated,” that aspect of the story remains the least explored and the most compelling and for a minute, the filmmakers appear to understand that.

It would have been extremely interesting to understand the how the Akron Decision affected their respective friendships at that moment in time, the drama surrounding it and its residual effects on the West Akron community.

However, they eventually have to get into James’ rise to inevitable high school stardom.

But this is set up to be a feel-good production with serious dramatic license taken in some scenes. Former St. V-M, University of Akron and current Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot (portrayed by Dermot Mulroney) walking off the court during a state championship game? Yeah, right.

Sorry, covered the man for years. He’s more competitive than many of his players. In the time I’ve known him I don’t think “quit” entered any conversation we ever had.

Credit Robinson with getting the casting correct with his young actors. They have an easy rapport with one another, but McLaughlin (“Stranger Things”) is a standout.

Akronites will appreciate the sights of the area in “Shooting Stars,” but know that it possesses far too much Hollywood.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal.

Review

Movie: “Shooting Stars”

Cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Wood Harris, Dermot Mulroney, Khalil Everage

Directed by: Chris Robinson

Running time: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Rated: PG-13 for strong language, some suggestive references and teen drinking

Grade: C+

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Review: LeBron James film 'Shooting Stars' shows split personality