Jason Kelce has had an unbelievable profession within the NFL. Six Pro Bowl choices, 5 first-team All-Pro choices, a Super Bowl championship and a large persona have earned him the timeless love of Philadelphia Eagles followers. Now, he’s getting the documentary therapy. Kelce, a new feature-length documentary on Amazon Prime Video, follows Kelce by way of the 2022-23 season as he ponders the ultimate stage of his enviable profession.
KELCE: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: Jason Kelce has completed the whole lot anybody might hope to do in an NFL profession. Is it time to hold it up? Kelce is a component profession retrospective, and half near-present-day drama, following Kelce by way of the 2022-23 season as he considers his growing older physique and ponders retirement. The movie mixes recreation footage with a heavy dose of interviews, each with Kelce and his household, associates, teammates and coaches. It’s a complete look at a likable participant going through down the top of a main part in his life.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: One of probably the most compelling tales for an athlete-focused documentary to inform is that of a celebrated star going through down the top of their profession. For current comparisons, Kelce bears a similarity in that regard to Shaun White: The Last Run, which noticed the snowboarder considering retirement, and McGregor Forever, which did the identical for longtime MMA fighter Conor McGregor.
Performance Worth Watching: The most entertaining scenes in Kelce are those that see each Jason and Travis Kelce collectively; they’re each NFL superstars and Super Bowl champions, however they’re additionally simply brothers. At one level, Jason teases Travis about it taking him 12 years to graduate from the University of Cincinnati, and factors out that his main was the one “all the blokes who weren’t there for college” selected. In a extra severe second, although, we see Jason assist Travis by way of adversity after a failed marijuana check received the youthful Kelce kicked off the Bearcats’ staff.
Memorable Dialogue: “This is my twelfth 12 months, and I play a place the place I hit my head on each play. Physically, I’m in good condition. For a median one who’s 35 years outdated? Not good condition. I’m at the purpose the place I can’t play soccer with out heavy anti-inflammatories, so I do know my time is coming to an finish. There’s a good likelihood that is my final season.”
Sex and Skin: None.
Our Take: If you don’t perceive why Philadelphia followers–notably among the many most passionate and emotional followers in American sports activities–love Jason Kelce, then you definately’ll perceive early on in Kelce, when Kelce–carrying the outlandish costume related to Philadelphia’s long-running Mummers Parade–delivers a profanity-laced victory speech at the rally celebrating the Eagles’ long-sought-after Super Bowl championship. He will get Philly followers, they usually get him.
This second illustrates what a terrific life in soccer Jason Kelce has had–from a profitable school profession with the Cincinnati Bearcats to a future as one of many prime facilities within the National Football League, all capped off by the Super Bowl ring (which, in a single humorous early scene, he rummages round his home unable to search out) after the 2017 season. The premise of Kelce
It’s an emotional setup, but it surely’s additionally a bit missing in stakes. That is–it’s simple to root for Kelce to get what he needs, but it surely’s additionally simple to see that he’s going to be fantastic both method. He’s not haunted by an elusive title, and he’s achieved virtually the whole lot a skilled athlete can ask for. He’s received a completely happy household life (there’s a humorous scene the place his spouse remembers assembly him on Tinder, and assuming that she was being catfished), and he’s beloved by followers.
Like many single-athlete-focus documentaries, Kelce is structured round interviews–primarily with Kelce himself, but additionally with members of the family, associates, teammates and former coaches. There’s loads of room given to his star sibling–Kansas City Chiefs celebrity tight finish Travis Kelce, who presents an fascinating perspective as somebody who each grew up with him and is aware of what it’s prefer to compete at the best stage. (Spoiler alert: the 2022-23 season culminates with the 2 brothers taking part in towards one another within the Super Bowl, the primary time two brothers ever did so.)
If you’re an Eagles fan (or, like me, a Cincinnati Bearcats fan), you’ll discover a lot to love about Kelce–it’s a well-made documentary on a very-likable determine, a good coda to a lengthy and profitable profession. It’s not going to supply a lot to informal followers, sadly–there’s not an angle that transcends the game, and it’s a onerous promote to look at a feature-length documentary on a single determine irrespective of how endearing they’re.
Our Call: SKIP IT. Kelce is a good, well-crafted documentary about a likable determine, however its enchantment might be restricted to Eagles followers or actually hardcore NFL followers.
Scott Hines is an architect, blogger and proficient web consumer based mostly in Louisville, Kentucky who publishes the widely-beloved Action Cookbook Newsletter.
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