Dennis Quaid Explains How THE LONG GAME Explores the American Dream

Published: April 16, 2024

Dennis Quaid Explains How THE LONG GAME Explores the American Dream

By Movieguide® Contributor

Dennis Quaid recently opened up with Movieguide® about how his latest movie, THE LONG GAME, inspires audiences and exemplifies the American Dream.

“People come here; they work hard,” said Quaid, who produced and starred in the movie. “That American Dream that, you know, can be elusive that you pave the way for you or your next generation, but you’re always working towards something, and there’s all kinds of possibilities.”

Movieguide® reported on THE LONG GAME in January:

THE LONG GAME, a movie about an unlikely group of golfers, stars Dennis Quaid and Jay Hernandez and is set for release on April 12.

“We are thrilled to share this powerful and inspirational film with audiences across the country who can come as a family to celebrate this true underdog story. Making this film with an all-star Latino cast and crew and amazing partners like Bonniedale sets an exciting blueprint for Mucho Mas,” Javier Chapa, the co-founder of Mucho Mas Media, said.

Directed by Julio Quintana, the Bonniedale/Mucho Mas Media movie is based on the book “Mustang Miracle” by Humberto G. Garcia. It tells the story of five teenage Hispanic-American caddies in the 1950s who, though they couldn’t play at the white-only country club, built their own golf course and went on to win the state championship at the same country club.

To Quaid, part of what makes the story so remarkable is the caddies’ determination.

“These boys, you know, they grew up in Del Rio, Texas. They were caddies at a country club where they could not play in because of their color. It was segregation at that time, and you know, add on to that, you know, the Mexican American boys down on the border, and they go across the border sometimes, and so in a way, you kind of grow up feeling like you’re not accepted or belong in this country, and also…go across the border to Mexico, [you] don’t feel really accepted or [like] you belong there as well,” Quaid explained.

“So it’s kind of walking a line with them, and this is really kind of about the American Dream and what it is to be an American and to chase that American Dream,” he said. “The boys, they couldn’t play at that country club, but they love golf, and they built their own golf course out there in the desert with like one hole. [They] started at a golf team in their high school who was coached by the Jay Hernandez character.”

Hernandez plays JB Peña, a real person who taught the boys.

“I really felt for these kids because they saw how much they were sincere and genuine and worked so hard at it, and [in the movie], I became the white face that got them signed up for these tournaments because, you know, the Latino kids weren’t even allowed to play as in the tournaments back then,” Quaid said. “But they won the Texas CH state championship the first year that they entered, and they won it at the very country club where they were not allowed to play.”

The FREQUENCY actor shared why he loves true stories like THE LONG GAME.

“If it was fiction, it would not be believable, you know, and because it’s true, you can’t deny it and the best things happen in true stories,” he said. “I think I relate to them so much, and this is the first movie out of our production company that my wife and I started—Laura—along with our partner Ben Howard, and we wanted to…brand ourselves doing inspiring, aspirational, underdog, American Dream stories.”

“They’ve always appealed to me, you know. Kind of in the vein of the rookie breaking away, even THE PARENT TRAP, stuff like that, that’s really kind of my wheelhouse, and so I want to do what I know I love,” Quaid said.

Quaid launched his production company, Bonniedale, in 2021. The company also has a Charley Pride biopic, AMERICAN PRIDE, underway.

“We really are out to make inspirational, aspirational, faith-based [movies]. I think that people go to the movies not to see things but to feel things—the human experience that is feeling close to each other, fellowship here on God’s green earth.”

Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:

THE LONG GAME follows a group of Mexican American teenagers in 1955 Texas who love the game of golf but are restricted from playing at the country club where they caddy. When School Superintendent JB Peña gets denied from the country club just because he’s Mexican, he’s distraught. JB starts his new job as Superintendent of the school district and sees the boys playing golf in an open field. JB encourages the boys to start a golf team. JB recruits his friend from the war, Frank, played by Dennis Quaid, who’s an excellent golfer and coach. Frank is rough around the edges but sees the potential in the boys. Together, they try to do something that’s never been done before, a Mexican golf team to compete for the state championship.

THE LONG GAME has a strong morally uplifting story and worldview that’s entertaining and fun to watch. The movie has jeopardy, drama and laughs. Also, the actors in THE LONG GAME do a great job. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children for some foul language, including two strong profanities, and intense moments.

As a long-time performer in uplifting movies, Movieguide® nominated Quaid for two Grace Awards® and honored him with several Teddy Bear Awards® throughout the years.

He recently told Salon, “I mainly take films because the story makes you feel something. When I read a script, it’s the only time that I’m ever going to have a first-time experience of that story as an audience member. I’ve done enough movies that I can tell whether the story holds up and how it affects me. I don’t have to be the lead in it; that’s one great thing about ensembles.”