You won’t find any last minute Hail Mary passes deep into the end zone to win the game or rousing locker room speeches from an embattled coach in Ivan Reitman’s new comedy drama. Instead, Draft Day is a glimpse inside the seemingly less exciting but perhaps equally fascinating world of the National Football League’s annual player draft.
Kevin Costner, in the midst of an enjoyable comeback of sorts, plays Cleveland Browns general manager Sonny Weaver. Things are a bit stressful for the GM — his father recently passed away, his girlfriend and team salary cap manager (Jennifer Garner) is pregnant and he wakes up with 12 hours to make a blockbuster deal to ensure the success of his team for years to come and save football in Cleveland.
So, Sonny decides to go with his gut and trade for the number one draft pick. The movie begins with some awkward exposition that sets the stage in a clunky manner; it may not be elegant writing but it cuts to the chase well. Things recover soon afterwards as Draft Day manages to weave a rather compelling yarn that examines an area of professional sport seldom explored on film.
The script may get bogged down by some familiar tropes at times and the dramatic music swells a bit too much but a committed cast, including Denis Leary, Chadwick Boseman and Frank Langella, fill their roles effectively.
Draft Day contains few surprises but showcases Costner’s talent with enough ‘working man’ charm to pay off.
