MOVIE TITLE: Green and Gold

This charming drama releases on streaming starting April 1, 2025 on platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Google Play.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 43 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

The heartfelt drama was inspired by true events and features a farm, faith, and family living on a dairy farm in Wisconsin in the 1990s. The narrative centers on Buck, portrayed by Craig T. Nelson, a fourth-generation dairy farmer grappling with the imminent foreclosure of his farm. In a desperate bid to save his livelihood, Buck places a high-stakes bet on the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl. Simultaneously, his granddaughter Jenny, played by Madison Lawlor, aspires to pursue a musical career, leading to a poignant exploration of generational conflicts and shared dreams.

This is the directorial debut of Anders Lindwall. Writing credits for the movie go to Missy Mareau Garcia, Michael Graf, Steven Shafer, and the director, Anders Lindwall. Already, the film has won two film festival awards, including the “Jimmy Stewart Legacy Award”, which seems like a perfect honor for this film because it captures the goodness and heart of Americana.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Firearms are used
We see a calf being born
Lots of spitting
Talk of the death of a family member
Some profanity but no F-bombs
We see a man from the back exercising in only his underwear

THEMES:

Community
Generational legacy
Rural America and farm life
Resilience
Sacrifice
Second Chances
Faith in humanity
Foreclosure
Hope
Ambition
Allowing change

THINGS I LIKED:

Green Bay Packers fans will especially enjoy this movie because you get to see Favre, Sterling Sharpe, Reggie White, and a few more, but you don’t have to be a big football fan to enjoy the flick. It’s not a typical football movie if that’s what you’re thinking.
You’ll definitely recognize Craig T. Nelson in the starring role, who did an excellent job. Craig T. Nelson embodies the resilience and determination of a seasoned farmer, while Madison Lawlor brings depth to Jenny’s journey of self-discovery. The chemistry between the cast members enhances the film’s emotional resonance, making the characters’ struggles and triumphs feel genuine and relatable.The rest of the cast is also really good, featuring Madison Lawlor, Brandon Sklenar, M. Emmet Walsh, and Charlie Berens.
The movie was mostly filmed in Door County, Wisconsin, using many local residents as extras in the cast.
Sadly, this was the last movie for actor M. Emmet Walsh. At the end of the movie, we see a card on the screen that lovingly dedicates the film to several people who passed away during the making of the movie.
It’s refreshing to see the spotlight shine on the Midwest and the salt-of-the-earth people who live and work hard there.
There is some light humor in the dialogue.
Beautiful cinematography.
The title is perfect for what happens in the story, especially when you see another meaning for the words “green” and “gold”.
I liked the addition of the title cards throughout the film that show us how the Green Bay Packers are doing in the season, revealing the risk of the bet the family takes with the banker to save their farm.
We get to hear some absolutely lovely music.
I loved the ending during the final rolling credits where we get to watch “Jenny” sitting in a field with the sun shining down on her and cows wandering by.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It’s pretty predictable. Some might even say it’s too cheesy and manipulative. I didn’t care. It gave me all the feels and I loved it, especially the ending.
It’s hard to imagine the women who had to put up with such an unsupportive, stubborn man in their life were able to remain positive for decades. A slight apology at the end seemed to tie a pretty bow around his years of emotinoal abuse to make everything okay. That is NOT okay.
Sometimes it’s hard to understand what people are saying in whispers.
Not all of the story lines are resolved in the end.

FUNNY LINES:

“Your license plate says ‘A-Hole’.” – Buck (Craig T. Nelson)
“I’m vegetarian.” – Billy (Brandon Sklenar) “So is a chicken.” – Buck (Craig T. Nelson)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Some people value a formal education.” – Jenny (Madison Lawlor) “Well, I’ll tell you something. Redneck Tech is a fine education.” – Buck (Craig T. Nelson)
“I see God smile when you sing.” – Margaret (Annabel Armour)
“He’s talking truth up there if you’d just listen.” – Margaret (Annabel Armour)
“You farm like it’s the 1800s.” – Jerry Moncton (Tim Frank) “He’s trying to do right by the soil and the animals.” – Jenny (Madison Lawlor)
“We just need a little bit of grace.” – Jenny (Madison Lawlor) “When you’re a little older, you’ll understand that grace isn’t how things work.” – Jerry Moncton (Tim Frank)
“After all these years, kisses can still make me dizzy.” – Margaret (Annabel Armour)
“We’re betting folks; we do it every year on six inches of topsoil and hope that it rains.” – Jenny (Madison Lawlor)
“There are right and wrong ways to make money, Jenny.” – Buck (Craig T. Nelson)
“Just because I don’t necessarily agree with you doesn’t mean I’m against you.” – Margaret (Annabel Armour)
“It’s never what you think initially that matters most.” – Jenny (Madison Lawlor)