The earnest documentary “Stephen Curry: Underrated” switches between time frames and portrays Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warrior routinely described as the greatest shooter in NBA history, as an underdog during at least two pivotal points in his career.
It tells the story of Curry, the high school and college athlete who was, at first and repeatedly, deemed too small and too skinny, but who went on to take Davidson College, a liberal arts school in North Carolina, to 25 consecutive victories in 2008. It also follows Curry at the start of this decade: the film begins in December 2021, when Curry broke Ray Allen’s career record for 3-pointers, and then follows him through a period of relative slums when commentators spec ask if he is still on top of his game. (He was subsequently named MVP of the 2022 NBA Finals after Bay Area team Golden State won its fourth championship in eight years.)
Off the field, Curry is shown raising a family and working to complete his unfinished studies with Davidson. His college career is summarized in detail, with his undergraduate years described as a series of second chances and triumphs through perseverance. One interviewee notes that when Curry started playing, Davidson games were generally not broadcast. Seeing these early highlights is part of the movie’s appeal.
The director, Peter Nicks, previously specialized in fly-on-the-wall portraits of Bay Area institutions (the Oakland police documentary “The Force”). But there is little in “Underrated” that comes across as spontaneous. That may be because Nicks didn’t discover much that feels fresh. Or it could be that the project, like Curry today, has nothing to prove.
Stephen Curry: Underrated
Rated PG-13 for language. Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Watch on Apple TV+.