Even though the Green Bay Packers season came to a close this month with three consecutive losses, including a Wild Card Round drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, there’s still a way to get some green and gold in your life this winter. Yes, on Friday, January 31, movie-viewing audiences throughout the state (and all over the country) will retroactively get to ride the highs and lows of a Packers playoff push when Green And Gold—a feature film both set and filmed in Wisconsin—hits theaters.

Set in the ’90s, the film follows a Door County dairy farmer named Buck (played by Craig T. Nelson) as he struggles to keep his family farm amid rising debts and falling milk prices. Left without any other options, he—quite literally—bets the farm on his beloved Packers to win it all. Along the way, there are some recognizable cameos, local references aplenty, and a legitimately emotional plot contained within a movie that leads with the themes of football and farming.

In advance of Green And Gold‘s release, Milwaukee Record had an opportunity to watch the film. Without giving away too much, here are some takeaways from the movie.

WISCONSIN IS FRONT AND CENTER
You know those movies that are set somewhere in the Midwest, but the location isn’t specified so that it can pass as almost any rural place in flyover country? Well, Green And Gold isn’t one of those movies. Northeast Wisconsin is mentioned, celebrated, and elevated throughout the film. There are sweeping views of Lake Michigan, dazzling shots of winding roads flanked by colorful wooded areas, footage of bucks running through seemingly endless fields, and charming imagery of quaint downtown Sturgeon Bay. No, the state isn’t all like that, but between the gorgeous glimpses of Door County and the exteriors of “Titletown” and “Brew City” that set up scenes in those cities, it’s a genuinely nice Wisconsin showcase.

WISCONSIN CULTURE IS FRONT AND CENTER
Beyond the scenery and Packers-focused subplot, Green And Gold manages to work in a fair amount—arguably bordering on too much, at times—references to the region’s culture. Thankfully “the accent” (the grating Fargo imitation and/or Canadian caricature so many films and TV shows blindly apply to anywhere in the upper Midwest) is seldom employed in the 95-minute vehicle. Still, characters eat casserole a couple of times in the film, fishing and deer hunting are both mentioned, two characters go on a date to get fish fry, and there are a few Bears-related jabs. Between the plot, the setting, and the oodles of local references, the only thing missing from this Wisconsin love letter is Charlie Berens.

CHARLIE BERENS IS IN IT!
Oh wait, Charlie Berens actually IS in Green And Gold! His voice can be heard at various points of the film in the role of “Radio Host” as he drops in funny and folksy lines as the on-air personality of the “Telephone Time” program. Without saying anything to spoil the movie, he also briefly shows up in the third act. Like him or lump him (let the record show we’re in the “like him” camp), you’ll be hearing and seeing him in Green And Gold.

CULVER’S PRODUCT PLACEMENTS
As if it couldn’t be more Wisconsin than a Packers-related movie about farming that features Charlie Berens, Green And Gold makes sure to prominently feature Culver’s a few times. Jenny has a Culver’s burger box on the dashboard of the pickup truck she’s driving back from Milwaukee at one point. Then, there’s the Culver’s logo that’s superimposed onto a Lambeau Field wall next to where LeRoy Butler jumps when the film shows the first Lambeau Leap. Also, Green And Gold might be the first studio film we’ve seen that gives special thanks to both Culver’s and the Green Bay Packers in its end credits.

LAWLOR AND WALSH SHINE
Speaking of other cast members, two actors—outside of the aforementioned Nelson, who is excellent despite his character careening from extremely sensitive and deep to inexplicably calloused and shortsighted—really shine in Green And Gold. Relative newcomer Madison Lawlor more-than pulls her weight in the co-leading role of Jenny, a charismatic young woman torn between preserving her family’s way of life and trying to make a life of her own. Conversely, accomplished character actor M. Emmet Walsh makes the most of his sparse screen time by inserting humor and just enough emotion into what is ultimately his final film appearance.

IT GETS HEAVY
You might not expect it from a movie with a blaze orange Packers hat-wearing guy on its poster, but Green And Gold can get seriously heavy at times. It confronts weighty subjects of suicide, death, grief, and financial hardship in a thoughtful and respectful manner. That, coupled with an old man and his granddaughter both coming to terms with the way the world can be, legitimately brought “a couple two-tree” tears to our eyes at film’s end.

THERE’S JUST ENOUGH PACKERS
Yeah, it’s about a 1990s Green Bay Packers team and one man’s love of the franchise. And sure, it’s called Green And Gold, but the movie does a good job of not leaning too emphatically on the football side of things. Real footage of that era’s regular season and playoff games is used. Some broad Packers talk is present in the dialogue, but that’s about it…except the somewhat funny fact Buck names his cows after members of the 1968 Packers and his pigs after former Chicago Bears players and coaches.

PREPARE FOR FAMILIAR FACES/SOUNDS/SIGHTS
Speaking of Packers players, eagle eye viewers will notice present-day LeRoy Buter playing a tailgater in one scene. That’s not the only localized Easter egg Wisconsinites will spot in Green And Gold. Just a few things we spotted include: a Stadium View sweatshirt, a Wolski’s sticker in a bar, a Highland Lanes Milwaukee jacket. Musically, Milwaukee’s own Emmitt James’ song “WR-4R” is listed in the credits, and S. Carey’s music is also used in the film to give the movie a little western Wisconsin cred. We imagine folks who frequent Door County will be able to pick out even more locations when watching the movie.

THE BEST LAST LINE IN A MOVIE SINCE “ROSEBUD”???
Before the credits roll at the end of the movie, one of the characters looks out into the vast fields of Wisconsin farmland and leaves viewers with this two-word parting shot: “Go Pack.” It’s just so beautiful.

THE ‘GREEN AND GOLD’ PACKERS-RELATED MOVIE STARRING CRAIG T. NELSON: Like the Packers season it chronicles, this movie surpassed all expectations. Altogether, it’s an enjoyable journey—especially for people in Wisconsin. Support local farmers. Eat Culver’s. Go Pack.

About The Author

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Co-Founder and Editor

Before co-founding Milwaukee Record, Tyler Maas wrote for virtually every Milwaukee publication (except Wassup! Magazine). He lives in Bay View and enjoys both stuff and things.