Mike Tollin named his first company “Halcyon Days Productions.”  The title fits, since that’s precisely how he portrayed the USFL in Small Potatoes.  The league was a flashy 80s production, rebellious, zany and fun.  It attracted big stars.  Most importantly, it was football, as evidenced with repeated, sonorous interludes from Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell.  Tollin awakens a forgotten league, a Wikipedia footnote to those of us under 30, but how successfully?

Tollin, who executive produced The Bronx is Burning and Bonds on Bonds, tells the story of the USFL.  He starts with the league’s inception, moving through Donald Trump’s purchase of the Generals, his insistence on competing directly with the NFL and forcing a merger and the ultimate demise of the league that caused.  Had it not been for Trump, we are led to assume, the league could have survived.

Small Potatoes has strengths.  The footage was exceptional.  Seeing stars like Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly, Steve Young and Anthony Carter playing in defunct uniforms enlivened the league.  That alone makes a viewing worthwhile.  Tollin presumably made extensive use of his ESPN connections for interviews with Charlie Steiner, Keith Jackson, Steve Young, Lee Corso and even Boston Breakers fan Bill Simmons (who seemed bizarre with a torso and arms attached).

Its weakness is the Trump interview, or non-interview.  Tollin dervies the title form it.  He bookends the film with it.  But, it gives us little insight.  Trump is the villain of the piece.  Tollin goes for the knockout punch.  Trump dodges the blow and walks out of the ring.  We already know Trump.  It’s not clear this added anything to our assessment.  Without a presentation of Trump’s position (which is not Tollin’s fault) his portrayal, however valid, feels dishonest.

Tollin’s own involvement skewed the film as well.  He was involved intimately with the USFL.  He straddles the line between inserting himself wholeheartedly and staying dispassionate.  He should have done the former.  The film screamed for a coherent guidance to ferry us through the multiple, staccato viewpoints.

Small Potatoes exposed the forgotten story of the USFL, and it was entertaining, though I’m not sure how much it enlightened.  I’m now more aware of the USFL, but I’m left with more questions than answers.