When audiences get a comedy from Happy Madison Productions, Adam Sandler’s production company, they know they’re in for some off-the-wall characters, many of which have a lot of heart. That can lead to a mixed bag of likability among the main characters, which is certainly true with a movie like Home Team.
Though the movie is inspired by the real story of an NFL coach’s suspension for unethical practices, the focus is really on his relationship with his son and his son’s underdog football team. In the grand tradition of The Mighty Ducks, or the lesser-known The Big Green, the kids and the adults who make up the main characters range from those with over-the-top egos to those who just want to have fun.
10 Mitch
The assistant coach to the children’s football team, Mitch is a bit of a mess. He’s got a lot of personal issues that tend to bleed over into how he treats the kids on the team, and there’s definitely a degree of hero-worship when Sean comes to town to see his son.
Mitch seems to be more concerned with making himself look good and having fun than he is at actually taking care of the kids around him.
9 Jamie
Jamie tries really hard to be a fun guy for the football players. He’s got a lot of ideas about conflict resolution that don’t involve wearing a helmet and shoulder pads, and it’s clear that he might have influenced some of the kids, like Dennis.
Ultimately, Jamie just wants to be involved. Even though he doesn’t understand the aggression behind football, he’s still there to support Connor at every game, and he even tries his hand at making protein sticks for the team. That backfires when the snack makes the entire team sick, but it’s the thought behind it that counts. Jamie might be more likable if he could just relax a little bit instead of continually trying to insert himself into every situation.
8 Sean
Just as Gordon Bombay returns to his roots after getting in trouble in The Mighty Ducks, so too, does Sean Payton. When he’s suspended, he has nothing else to occupy his time, so he decides to make an attempt to reconnect with his 12-year-old son. While it’s nice that he’s putting in an effort, as it’s pointed out to him repeatedly, he wouldn’t have tried if he wasn’t suspended.
The movie never really addresses whether he actually did the things he’s accused of either; he only tells his son that the situation is complicated. Sean does inspire confidence in a lot of the players as he brings his expertise to the game, but he also makes a lot of the kids doubt themselves when he continually puts the better players into the game. Sean eventually learns to give all of the kids a chance, but it takes him until their final game of the season and being yelled at by his son, to do it.
7 Marcos
Marcos isn’t a bad kid, and it’s very clear that he cares about his teammates. He’s not quite as likable as the other characters, however, because, like Sean, he is initially focused on how important he is to the team, not the team as a whole.
It’s not Marcos’ fault since all of the adults around the team constantly remind everyone that Marcos is their best player. His ego is bigger as a result. Marcos does make it clear that he would do anything for the team, even stepping down from his place as quarterback for another role that better suits his skills, which definitely makes him more likable to the audience.
6 Paulie
It’s clear that Paulie is in this movie solely as comedic relief for the team. He’s constantly being hit with the football when the kicker misjudges, and he spends nearly every practice and game putting in an order for a pizza because he knows his hunger will win out over his desire to play.
Paulie is a relatable football player for the audience. He’s just there to have a good time, not because he wants to be a football star. Sure, he enjoys the game more when the team starts winning, but he’s 12, and he’s not someone who is going to commit to NFL-level football drills when he just wants to hang out with his friends.
5 Beth
Sean’s ex-wife is an incredibly understanding person. She marries someone (Jamie) who couldn’t be more different than her ex-husband. She both engages with his non-violent and vegan practices and understands a whole lot more about football than she initially lets on.
Beth encourages Sean and Connor to reconnect, but she also recognizes just why Connor might not want to immediately buddy up toh his own father. The audience can understand why everyone seems to like her.
4 Dennis
Dennis has clearly picked up a thing or two from Jamie shouting in the stands about growing and solving conflicts without tackling. Despite being in a position that requires him to hit other players, he holds back. Dennis likes the game, but not the violence.
Dennis is also a stereotypical “good kid” for the movie. He listens to the advice of the coaches and tries his best, he helps his mom cook dinner, and he advises Sean on just when to run out so his mom can’t keep hitting on the man. Dennis is nice, and that helps make him charming.
3 Troy
The coach of the Warriors before Sean comes to town, Taylor Lautner’s Troy is trying his best to make sure the team has fun as they improve. As a result, he’s holding back from making the kids do anything they might not want to do. Troy might not initially be the best authority figure, but the kids in the team definitely like him, and he has their best interests at heart.
When Sean starts favoring Connor and Marcos in the final games of the season, Troy tries to look out for his other players. He doesn’t always get through to Sean, but he tries to make sure every member of the team feels included and has fun, and that’s the best thing a coach of 12-year-olds can do.
2 Connor
Connor initially appears very standoffish, but that’s because the audience sees him through his father’s eyes. He knows that his father isn’t truly in town for him, and he sees that as a disappointment. Connor is the one member of the team to stand up to his father when he realizes that Sean cares more about making himself look good than he does the team.
Connor genuinely wants to have a good time playing football and not have his experience overshadowed by his father’s career choices. He also wants everyone on the team to have a good time. Connor is willing to give up playing if it means his friends get the chance to play too, which is very admirable.
1 Harlan
Outside of Connor, Harlan is the football player who gets the most development in the movie’s story. He’s the true underdog of the football team.
Harlan has difficulty concentrating during games because the girl he has a crush on is in the stands, and that costs him his spot as kicker for a while when Sean doesn’t trust him to perform. Despite that, Harlan is a sweet kid who just wants to be part of the team. His entire team also rallies behind him to get his crush’s attention, helping him sing to her — though they do end up at the wrong house.
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