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In any conversation about iconic ’90s action films, Will Smith’s contributions are hard to overlook. However, as the new millennium dawned and his Western-action vehicle “Wild Wild West” stumbled at the box office, Smith began to diversify his roles, incorporating more character-driven dramas alongside his action-packed projects. Among these was “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” a 2000 release that failed to captivate either critics or audiences despite its potential.
DreamWorks Pictures
Directed by Robert Redford, “The Legend of Bagger Vance” features Smith as the enigmatic caddy, Bagger Vance, who aids the troubled golfer Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon, in reviving his career. While the film initially presents itself as a sports drama, a deeper look reveals its fantasy elements, a twist that becomes evident well before the narrative officially unveils it.
Renowned film critic Roger Ebert praised the film, awarding it a commendable 3.5 out of 4 stars and describing it as “a masterpiece of tact.” However, Ebert’s favorable view was not widely shared, and the movie failed to make a lasting impression on audiences, both at its release and in subsequent years.
While “The Legend of Bagger Vance” might be considered among the better golf films by default, due to the limited number of entries in the genre, it struggled critically. Its Rotten Tomatoes score stands at a modest 43%, with critics noting that the film, despite its star-studded cast, suffers from a lackluster script, underdeveloped characters, and dialogue that falls flat. Additionally, the film faced criticism for glossing over racial issues inherent to its setting.
Though the audience score is somewhat more favorable at 65%, it still doesn’t reflect a strong fan following. The movie’s box office performance was underwhelming, likely impacted by the decline in Smith’s star appeal post-“Wild Wild West,” and the fact that co-stars Matt Damon and Charlize Theron had yet to achieve full leading actor status. Furthermore, golf movies often struggle to attract large audiences, with only a few achieving cult status. For instance, “Tin Cup” holds the record as the highest-grossing golf film with a domestic total of just $54 million. Despite these challenges, “The Legend of Bagger Vance” can at least claim the admiration of one of cinema’s most esteemed critics.
Ebert was among the few who praised the movie
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“The Legend of Bagger Vance” can be considered one of the best golf movies of all time, but it earns that distinction almost by default since there aren’t dozens upon dozens of golf movies to pick from. Roger Ebert was a big fan, but few other critics were. The movie holds an underwhelming score of 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the unusually wordy critical consensus reading: “Despite the talent involved in ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance,’ performances are hindered by an inadequate screenplay full of flat characters and bad dialogue. Also, not much happens, and some critics are offended by how the film glosses over issues of racism.”
The audience score is higher, but 65% certainly doesn’t suggest a movie with a passionate fanbase. It was also a box office bomb upon release, likely due in part to Will Smith’s diminished star power after “Wild Wild West” and the fact that neither of his main co-stars — Matt Damon and Charlize Theron — were at the point where their names alone could open a movie. On top of all that, a golf movie tends to be a tough sell, with all but a select few being relegated to cult hit status at best. According to Guinness, the highest-grossing golf movie of all time is “Tin Cup” at a mere $54 million domestic gross. “The Legend of Bagger Vance” faced an uphill battle from the start, but at least it can boast a near-perfect rating from one of the most respected film critics of all time.
