LeBron James is living proof that you can’t be anything you want to be as long as you work hard and pay your dues. If you ain’t born with a gift, there’s no way you’re going to be a superstar, no matter how hard you try, how much you practice, how determined and focused you may be. This applies to just about any field, from sports to music to mathematics. This is not, of course the intended message from the fabulous new documentary More Than a Game. It’s probably meant to be a statement about triumph over adversity. But the bottom line is that it’s a riveting story well told, with amazing historical footage that was obviously lovingly collected and saved over the years.

The story centers on James and four of the friends he played basketball with as they moved together through childhood to adulthood in a rusted-out and down-trodden Akron, Ohio. Against the odds, these disparate five boys formed an amazing team that won national championships. Several played professionally, but none were as successful as James, who came from some of the most dire circumstances. How they all dealt with his media attention and eventual fame and fortune is fascinating to watch. You can’t help but marvel at the intricate and comprehensive footage. It’s almost as if someone collected it and said, “This would make a great film,” rather than someone saying, “This story would make a great film if we can just find the footage.”

It really doesn’t matter. It is mostly told from the perspective of a coach who felt he was in over his head, and from players who admire (but not worship) James. They knew him back in the day, and at times competed with him. Although there is no, “poor me” feeling in any of the players’ stories, it’s apparent that James was one of the most disadvantaged of the lot. You really have to admire and be inspired by him and his teammates, no matter how many were born with the gift and how many were not. More Than a Game rekindles excitement for the sport of basketball, and to take it a step further, for growing up in America. It’s one of the best family documentaries you’ll ever want to take the kids to see. Score!

Rated PG

--Lisa Johnson Mandell