Down and Derby MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -1

This comedy is based on the annual competition in which cub scouts nationwide race cars that theyve built from a five-ounce chunk of wood. Ever since Ace Montana (Marc Raymond) moved to town, Phil Davis (Greg Germann) has felt like he can never get ahead. In everything they do, Ace always seems to win. So when Phils son Brady (Adam Hicks) brings home a Pinewood Derby kit, Phil feels the need to prove himself. Instead of allowing Brady to build the car, Phil takes over the entire process. But Phil isnt the only one. In fact, every father in the neighborhood has taken over his sons derby car. Sparked by an intensely competitive spirit, the dads neglect all of their responsibilities in marriage, parenthood and work. They act in stupid, illegal and childish ways in a quest to come out on top. Meanwhile, their sons cant wait until they are dads so that they can build derby cars of their own.

While the premise has some potential, Down and Derby is actually a slow-moving movie with only a few high points. So much screen time is devoted to clich gags and the crazy competitive antics of the derby dads that the film quickly begins to get tedious and boring. But when the action switches to derby day, the film becomes more interesting, adding fun images of boys and their derby cars in competition. In one great scene, Phils wife urges him to let Brady race his own car instead of the one that Phil has engineered. She reminds Phil that sacrifice is when you give up something good for something better. In this case, Phils relationship with his son should be more important than winning the derby. Though Down and Derby is not a terribly offensive film, it is also not very entertaining, and so Preview suggests that you save your money.

Preview Reviewer: Shaun Daugherty
Distributor: Stonehaven Media