Balls Out: A Dash of Madcap Lunacy with Touchdowns

Hey folks, pulling up a chair for a chat about “Balls Out,” the film where American football meets a bit of Swedish smörgåsbord chaos. Now, before we dive in—no judgments here—I admit, I was skeptical. Sports films, they can be a tricky play, right?

So what’s the deal with “Balls Out”? Directed by Andrew Disney, who you’d think was making an animated adventure, it’s actually a college football comedy. It’s got folks like Jake Lacy and the ever-amusing Kate McKinnon. Yes, her! The one who can make even a smörgåstårta seem like a joke.

There’s this one scene that has stuck with me, taking me back to my school days in Östermalm, trying to kick a football in gym class. It usually ended up looking more like a scramble of meatballs than anything athletic. It’s nostalgic, in a quirky kind of way—those years of école climbing were nerve-wracking but unexpectedly fun, much like this film.

Jake Lacy, with that grin that could melt a Stockholm winter, does a decent job of bringing the charisma. And Kate? I swear she could make köttbullar out of air. Her timing’s impeccable, even if the script at times felt wobblier than a midsummer’s maypole.

I think the highlight for me is the raw, ridiculous energy. Is it a profound masterpiece that challenges the depths of our souls? Nah! But it’s got enough pep to make even Abba’s “Dancing Queen” sound like a funeral march in comparison.

Soundtrack-wise, it’s all rah-rah and bump-bump. Mark Orton’s compositions might not reach ABBA’s levels but they’re catchy enough to stick in your head like a Göteborg fish market jingle.

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But sometimes, like a surprise fika, it’s the imperfections that make it worth the while.

Check the trailer below