MORE THAN A GAME

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Director Kristopher Belman contextualizes LeBron James's rags-to-riches success story as it connects to his childhood teammates, with whom James played from grade school up to an epic final season at  St. Vincent-St. Mary high school (under coach Dru Joyce II).

From their Akron, Ohio basketball team (called the Fab Five: LeBron James, Willie McGee, Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, and Coach Dru's son "Little" Dru Joyce III), the talented group reinvented high school basketball in the eyes of fans and the media.

The filmmaker's seven years of access to his subjects enables Belman to provide an encyclopedic breadth of insight that extends across an entire milieu.

Filled with roughly-filmed home movies of actual games (most are not too blurry), and expressive talking-head interviews, "More Than a Game" drills down into the challenging home lives of each member of the the tight-knit group.

Coach Dru's careful handling of the team provides an especially macro/micro look at the work involved in sustaining such a team.

As much of an accidental sociological study as a hugely entertaining look at a genuinely interesting and action-packed sports story, "More Than a Game" lives up to its title.

Even non-basketball fans should enjoy this inspired human interest drama of skill, loyalty, and passion.

Rated PG. 105 mins.