You listen to an inspiring speech if movies have taught me anything. But I imagine there's probably an inspiring speech in that movie at some point, so yeah, I don't know what the problem is.
Did they want him to be stewing in guilt and stress for the game going badly or something? If you're definitely going to lose why not just not worry about it?
I have no problem with his choice to watch a movie, but to choose to watch The Polar Express? Has he been checked for chronic traumatic encephalopathy?