Sunset Park (1996)
-
13% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(4,273 ratings)
A Jewish high school teacher, Phyllis Saroka (Rhea Perlman), steps in to take on the thankless job of coaching the school's inept basketball team, which is filled with ne'er-do-wells from the slums. She takes the job to get extra money to fulfill her dream of opening a restaurant on the… More A Jewish high school teacher, Phyllis Saroka (Rhea Perlman), steps in to take on the thankless job of coaching the school's inept basketball team, which is filled with ne'er-do-wells from the slums. She takes the job to get extra money to fulfill her dream of opening a restaurant on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. Phyllis has had bad luck with men, is dissatisfied with her teaching job, and is desperate to do something meaningful as she approaches middle age. Meanwhile, the players on the team are ambitious only about scoring drugs and girls and inventing their own rap songs. Butter (James Harris) is the team's only really talented player, but he wastes most of his energy chasing skirts. Busy-Bee (De'Aundre Bonds) is a small but highly energetic goofball. The mind of Spaceman (Terrence Dashon Howard) has been diminished by learning disabilities and drugs. Phyllis's greatest challenge is the brilliant, moody Shorty (Fredro Starr). Shorty teaches Phyllis the game, but he feels betrayed when he learns that she is planning to leave after one season. Perlman's husband, Danny DeVito, served as the film's producer. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Directed By
- Steve Gomer
- Written By
- Seth Zvi Rosenfeld, Kathleen McGhee-Anderson
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Apr 26, 1996 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 9, 2002
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
-
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
The camera fails to capture the basketball action to its best advantage, and it really isn't explained how the players become so talented so quickly.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Cast
-
Rhea Perlman
as Phyllis Saroka
-
Fredro Starr
as Shorty
-
Carol Kane
as Mona
-
Terrence Howard
as Spaceman
-
Camille Saviola
as Barbara
-
De'aundre Bonds
as Busy-Bee
-
Anthony C. Hall
as Andre
- Talent Harris
-
Shawn Michael Howard
as Kurt
