In “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” from Academy Award-winning director Robert Redford, the purpose takes a backseat to cheap inspiration.

It lacks the emotion it deserves.

The story follows the once great golfer Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) as he attempts to get his swing back with the help of his caddy, Bagger Vance (Will Smith).

Also starring Charlize Theron, the film takes place in 1930s Georgia, drawing on the effects of World War I and the Great Depression.

The film is not much of a legend. Conversely, it is a simple, charismatic story that is based on a Steven Pressfield novel - one that you will want to read to grasp the emotion and genuine feeling that it possesses.

The strength of the story and characters is more of a virtue than the filmmaking. However, this is not to say the production, direction and magnificent acting played an unfortunately lowbrow role in the movie.

It is just that the history and potentially interesting plot of the film overshadow the fact that this is a Redford film - but one that joins the dry ranks of “A River Runs Through It” and “The Horse Whisperer.” It is easy to get caught up in the story and ignore the many annoying qualities the film possesses.

Because the underlying story focuses on the world of golf, the movie does the same. And after seeing a thousand swings and a thousand Spalding golf balls flying through the air and bouncing across the perfect-looking grass, the meaning of the word “repetition” is permanently burnt into the psyche