Run time: 124 mins

Woody Harrelson leads a terrific cast of newcomers in this charming sports comedy crowdpleaser.

Charged with drunk driving in Iowa, hotheaded basketball coach Marcus is sentenced to community service working with a sparky team of players who have learning disabilities. His mentor Phil encourages him to get to know the teammates on a more personal level than usual, and soon they’re on track to play in the Special Olympics in Winnipeg. Despite his initial doubts, together, the team begin to dream of going further than they ever imagined.

Director Bobby Farrelly neatly finds edgy humour with an open-handed take on people who are too often marginalised in sport and on screen. Marcus is just as much of an underdog here as his team and his transformation from angry curmudgeon to gruff nice guy sees Harrelson fully dive into the role. It almost feels like a 30-years-later sequel to White Men Can’t Jump.

A remake of 2018’s Spanish film of the same name, Champions does just that: it champions its cast and characters, offering a hugely enjoyable and engaging story that crushes stereotypes, challenges underlying prejudices and delivers both laughter and charm in equal measure.