Every once in a while, a movie surprises me. I see a lot of films and keep up with all the latest releases, so I usually know what I’m getting. But with the new film Green and Gold, I had no idea. What I saw was my first pleasant surprise of 2025.
The film takes the action back to the 1990s and to a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. There, Buck (Craig T. Nelson) is a struggling farmer who has a passion for Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. His granddaughter, Jenny (Madison Lawlor), helps run the farm. But that’s not her passion. Her real passion is music, something her grandfather doesn’t fully understand.
When the farm is in financial trouble, both Buck and Jenny are forced to come together and scramble to protect their future. Buck decides to make a big bet on his love of the Packers, hoping to clear his debt if the Packers can win the Super Bowl. Jenny, meanwhile, decides to bet on herself.
She connects with an up-and-coming professional musician, Billy (Brandon Sklenar), who takes an interest in her unique songs. He makes her an offer, but it would mean making a different kind of sacrifice.
This film opens here at the end of January and has likely been an under-the-radar offering. It’s a smaller film that tells a specific slice-of-life. The film is aimed at honoring farmers and the work they do to support the nation—which is one of the reasons the film’s big sponsor is the restaurant chain Culvers.
There is a lot about that set up that I admired. I enjoyed the look at farming and the appreciation for those who take on that challenge. Director Anders Lindwall, a co-writer, does a nice job with the visuals and capturing this kind of small-town slice-of-life.
I also liked Nelson here. He plays the lead with a fun, curmudgeonly style. But Lawlor is the real find. She does a nice job building Jenny and her arc. And her singing in the third act is beautiful and certainly tugs at the heartstrings.
As an avid football fan, I couldn’t help but identify with having so much of your hopes and dreams wrapped up in a team. It’s crushing when they don’t win and joyous when they pull it out. This story plays out along with the Packers season, and even though we know how it ends you can’t help but root for the Packers along with Buck and Jenny.
Overall, this was a heart-warming and engaging tale. It moves at a good pace, builds its world, and draws you into this story. I enjoyed the performances here, too. This is a film that will be good for the whole family as well.
Green and Gold opens in theaters on Friday, January 31.