If it didn't happen to be true, you might dismiss it as feel-good fantasy. But part of what makes The Greatest Game Ever Played so appealing is that this is a real-life Cinderella story with the elements of classic drama. Based on the 2002 book by Mark Frost (who also wrote the screenplay adaptation), the film details how a 20-year-old amateur golfer named Francis Ouimet defeated the most celebrated pro golfer of his time, Harry Vardon, to win the 1913 U.S Open.

We are introduced to Francis as a small boy, growing up in a home just across the street from the Brookline, Massachusetts, country club. A caddie at the affluent golf club, the child spends his free time honing his putting and assiduously following the career of British golfing legend Vardon (Stephen Dillane), the Tiger Woods of his day. When the pro makes a promotional appearance in a Boston department store to shag balls, young Francis shows up to marvel at his hero and winds up getting a quick lesson.

Their paths would cross again 13 years later on the Brookline golf course. Shia LaBeouf portrays Francis as a 20 year old, his love for golf now having blossomed into a true mastery of the game. Encouraged by a solicitous club member, he competes in the Massachusetts state amateur competition.

Francis eventually accepts an offer to compete in the U.S. Open when it's held in Brookline, chiefly so he can play on the same course as Harry Vardon and another British golf great, Ted Ray (Stephen Marcus). Circumstances leading up to that prestigious tournament spur another odd turn of events. After Francis' caddie unexpectedly quits on him before the first day, he selects a replacement caddie: 10-year-old Eddie Lower (Josh Flitter), a spunky kid whose wit and spirit would prove instrumental to Francis' game.

Inspirational sports movie invariably adhere to certain givens. There is, for instance, the inevitable Big Game that pits our fire-in-the-belly underdog against the cocky villain. The Greatest Game Ever Played certainly has its share of clichés, particularly Francis' disapproving immigrant father and a tepid love interest that meanders in and out of the movie.

Still, the movie wisely subverts other traditions of the sports genre. There is no bad guy in the piece -- at least not when it comes to the golf tournaments. Instead, both Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon share a common enemy, the class system of their time. The products of working-class upbringings, they must prove their mettle in a sport that had long been the domain of wealthy gentlemen.

Despite Vardon's worldwide fame, he remains forever an outsider among the British aristocrats who treat him like hired help. The situation is no better on this side of the pond. When Francis enters the amateur competition, he is scoffed at by the Brookline country club members who refuse to acknowledge him as anything but a lowly caddie.

Golf doesn't make for the most exciting spectator sport, so director Bill Paxton (better known for his acting, including his current leading role in the HBO series, Big Love) scores points for finding visually sumptuous ways to dramatize the tournaments. Through use of a camera-mounting Technocrane, the audience is with the golf ball sailing through the air, slicing through trees and rolling gently toward the green. An array of cinematic tricks are employed -- obtuse camera angles, quick editing, slow-motion and the like -- but never does Paxton overdo the pyrotechnics or compromise the viewer's ability to follow the action.

LaBeouf and Dillane are excellent in their roles, both actors demonstrating a quiet and understated charisma. Although The Greatest Game Ever Played doesn't quite live up to the billing of its title, it is still a work of solid storytelling, artfully crafted and boasting real heart.

Presented in anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1, the picture quality is stunning. The transfer is gorgeous, showcasing cinematographer Shane Hurlbut's efforts giving the film a retro Kodachrome look that mimics the rich, tinted colors of old-time photographs.

Audio is in Dolby Digital 5.1 and available in both English and French. The sound is crisp and immersive. Subtitles are available in French, and captions are an option for the hearing-impaired.

There are two commentary tracks, both of which are worth checking out. Mark Frost's commentary is a bit dry, but interesting, as he focuses on separating fact from instances in which he took dramatic license. Perhaps best known for having co-created TV's Twin Peaks, the author reveals an exhaustive mastery of his subject.

Bill Paxton's commentary is even better. The director's enthusiasm for this movie is infectious; the praise he lavishes on his colleagues doesn't come off grating or sounding forced, as similar accolades do in so many other DVD commentaries. More important, Paxton is a good talker; he offers a wealth of interesting nuggets, including how the Beatles' 1968 animated motion picture, Yellow Submarine influenced the visual scheme of The Greatest Game Ever Played.

A 15-minute featurette, View from the Gallery: On the Set of The Greatest Game Ever Played, is a promotion-oriented overview of the movie's making. It doesn't offer a great deal of information, but it's pleasant enough.

Two Legends and the Greatest Game is an interesting rundown of the real-life stories of Ouimet and Vardon, with the featurette's voiceover narration presumably from Mark Frost's nonfiction book. At nearly seven minutes, the piece is a concise summary and gives viewers a better understanding of how Ouimet's 1913 victory actually changed the course of golf in America.

From Caddie to Champion: Francis Ouimet is a 1963 television special in which the real-life Ouimet, then 70 years old, shares his recollections of the 1913 U.S. Open. The 25-minute black-and-white interview is a terrific addition. It is particularly a kick to see Ouimet, an engaging and well-spoken interviewee, stroll along the actual golf course where he shocked the world's golfing establishment.

Sneak peeks include trailers to four Disney flicks: Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Glory Road and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Is The Greatest Game Ever Played a formulaic, predictable and often-clichéd sports flick? Yep (besides, it's hard for true stories not to be predictable). Is the film also genuinely involving and effective? Yep, it is those things, too. Viewers don't have to be golf fans (I'm not, after all) to appreciate this open-hearted storytelling, and the DVD also benefits from some nifty extras.