Movies, Movies And More Movies

Comedy
You don't have to be second best all your life.

It seems that the least Toronto raised Keanu Reeves says in a film the better he is. He is a much better actor when he saws less and acts more. When he speaks too much the Keanu from BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE tends to surface. Also witness his part in THE MATRIX, he did not really have a preponderance of dialogue. That fact that said little added to his character; he sort of reminds me of James Dean in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE.The nice thing about is that he says little and acts more which makes him look a lot better. The is a fun movie from beginning to end. Don't expect a great plot or anything socially significant because this is a just a good old fashion fun movie.

The plot is simple enough. It is a story of dreams realized. It is a story of football players and cheerleaders. Well actually it is about THE REPLACEMENTS. These people step in due to a player strike. The playoffs are fast approaching and the Washington Sentinels had stood a good chance of being in them. Owner Edward O'Neil played by Jack Warden hatches a plan with legendary coach Jimmy McGinty prtrayed by the great Gene Hackman to save the season for them. Recruit a team of replacement players to keep the games going until they can end the strike. They have one week to get the team together.

McGinty puts together a team of mismatched players that have all waited for a second chance to prove themselves. To quarterback the team he brings in Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), a player who has a quality that the pro guys lack...he plays because he has a qenuine love of game. He doesn't seem to care about the money.

"You're the first player who cares more about his team members tham himself. That's what the team has been missing."

Now there is the team. This is such a mismatched group that it can not help but make you laugh at their antics. There is the butter fingered wise cracking but insecure sprinter, Clifford Franklin (ORLANDO JONES). Daniel Bateman an over zealous, pyshical L.A. cop played by Jon Favreau; the Welsh star kicker (soccer) called Nigel "The Leg" Gruff (Rhys Ifans). We see him on the field smoking even before kicking the ball. We have a prisoner, music industry bodyguards, born again Christian, a huge Japanese sumo wrestler and even a deaf player portrayed by David Denman.

This is a real motley crew but they are men who put their all into the game. They do it to prove themselves. They put up with the scab calls and harrassement by the striking players because they are passioate about the game. Shane brings them all together until the loyality they have for each other molds them into a winning team that leads them to the finals. The great thing is that the fans and sport commentators begin to enjoy themselves with these replacement players and realize that they are bringing a new joy to the game. The reason for this is the fact that these players represent the root reasons why people like sports. Where the pros have turned sports into a game of averice and greed these replacements play for the love of the game, the way it used to be.

Since the normal cheerleaders could not go on due to the strike, we also see the replacement cheerleaders group put together. Head cheerleader Annabelle Farrell (Brooke Langton) puts together the new cheerleader team. She performs her job by day and works her bar by night. She has to audition the new cheerleaders and watching the auditions is a real laugh. Eventually she discovers that a group of strips and table dancers are just perfect for the job. Their antics on the field will really make you laugh and have mother's covering their children's eyes in the stands.

"Was that a game or a fight?"

When the first game comes along the team performs well but the fact that they seem to beat up on each other on the field causes them to lose. After the game they end up in a bar where they get into a fight with the striking team. The replacement crew ends up in jail. This is where we get introduced to Clifford's love for the song "We Will Survive". The team picks up on it and it becomes their song to the point that it is played on the field. It even helps their game as it brings the team together so that they begin winning games.

"I love to see a fat guy score."

Annabelle and Shane begin to fall for each other but Shane's insecurities adversely affects their relationship. The games must go on of course even during their personal problems. With the help of the sexy antics of the cheerleaders they win the second game and others. The giant sumo player wins the game for them.

Before the 4th game Eddie Martel ( Brett Cullen), the quarterback crosses the picket line and is put back into the game. This of course takes Shane out of the game and in his disappointment he feels he isn't worthy of Annabelle and stands her up for a late night dinner. Martel's ego, arrogance and lack of respect for the replacements puts the 4th game in jeopardy. When Shane shows up, McGinty pulls Martel and puts Shane back in as quarterback even though he knows the team owner will be upset.

"Washington is playing like there is no tomorrow...let's face it there isn't."

Sahne brings co-ordination and heart back to the team and the players, the fans and even the sportscasters are glad to see him back. The team knows the strike will end after this last game so they play hteir hearts out to go out with pride and in a blaze of glory. To see what happens, you'll have to open up your wallet and go see this excellent and very fun film.

"Gentlemen, it's been a honour to share the field of battle with you."

I really enjoyed this film and highly recommend it not for it's great script or original ideas but because it appeals to our desires of getting second chances in our lives. Even though we may not get those chances, we can see in these guys the potiential for us to possibly get a second chance to improve our lives or correct that wrong turn we made. Besides I really liked the music; I'm even going to buy the soundtrack. The popcorn wasn't bad either even though I wish everybody would go back to using coconut oil to pop their corn. By the way I was impressed that even though this film used tough characters they kept the language down to PG and even though I heard there was nudity in it, I saw none so this is a fairly safe family film. Enjoy, I'm outta here.

"I hope that The Replacements makes audiences laugh," said Director Howard Deutch, "but I would love it if it also touches people’s emotions. It would make me happy if this film gave people a sense that if Shane, Coach McGinty and the other ‘losers’ in the movie can redeem their dreams, than there’s hope for everyone."

"Greatness, no matter how brief stays with a man forever."