This is a movie that I know I saw part of growing up, but I'm not fully sure that I watched it start to finish. There were parts that I didn't remember at all. I also couldn't remember the basic story outside of general set up for these types of movies. Jaime and I wanted to watch something light hearted as well.
We follow a hotshot lawyer of Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez). He has an amazing record and will win whatever way necessary. This gets him in hot water when he busted while driving under the influence. The DA is looking to throw the book at him. This forces his boss, Gerald Ducksworth (Josef Sommer), to step in. He is put on leave, with pay, and needing to do community service.
What we get glimpses of was that Gordon was a good hockey player as a boy. He gave it up though when he let his coach down. This is Coach Riley (Lane Smith). Gordon is forced to take over District 5, which is a ragtag of kids. They include Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson), Goldberg (Shaun Weiss), Jesse Hall (Brandon Quintin Adams), Dave Karp (Aaron Schwartz), Terry Hall (Jussie Smollett), Guy Germaine (Garette Ratliff Henson) and Connie (Marguerite Moreau).
Gordon will need to grow up and learn just as much of his players. He sees their potential and even recruits a bigger kid of Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), a couple of figure skaters in Peter (J. D. Daniels) and Tammy (Jane Plank). There might even be a loophole where the best player on Coach Riley's team of the Hawks could be playing on the wrong squad. This kid is Adam banks (Vincent LaRusso).
What I will say is that I'm glad I watched this. I still prefer the sequel, but this sets the groundwork. These is your typical sports movie for kids where the coach needs to change. In doing that, he helps these kids find their potential. What is shocking to me was how good Jackson could skate. The scenes on the ice look to be older kids with good camera work to make them look like the actors we know. There are unbelievable aspects here, but I still enjoyed my time actually seeing this movie through.
Before ending this review, I will say that the kids are annoying, but I expect that. Estevez is good as the coach. I like that he is a mirror to Smith until he realizes the error of his ways. Joss Ackland, Heidi Kling and M. C. Gainey are good to help Gordon find his way. I like how complicated they make Sommer's character. Jackson, Henson, Weiss, Adams, Schwartz, Moreau and Smollett are all solid kid actors that were in multiple things. No one is great. They work in the confines of what they need here. If you are into Disney movies, especially sports ones then give this a go. It isn't fully believable. It is more of a shut off your brain for sure.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.
We follow a hotshot lawyer of Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez). He has an amazing record and will win whatever way necessary. This gets him in hot water when he busted while driving under the influence. The DA is looking to throw the book at him. This forces his boss, Gerald Ducksworth (Josef Sommer), to step in. He is put on leave, with pay, and needing to do community service.
What we get glimpses of was that Gordon was a good hockey player as a boy. He gave it up though when he let his coach down. This is Coach Riley (Lane Smith). Gordon is forced to take over District 5, which is a ragtag of kids. They include Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson), Goldberg (Shaun Weiss), Jesse Hall (Brandon Quintin Adams), Dave Karp (Aaron Schwartz), Terry Hall (Jussie Smollett), Guy Germaine (Garette Ratliff Henson) and Connie (Marguerite Moreau).
Gordon will need to grow up and learn just as much of his players. He sees their potential and even recruits a bigger kid of Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), a couple of figure skaters in Peter (J. D. Daniels) and Tammy (Jane Plank). There might even be a loophole where the best player on Coach Riley's team of the Hawks could be playing on the wrong squad. This kid is Adam banks (Vincent LaRusso).
What I will say is that I'm glad I watched this. I still prefer the sequel, but this sets the groundwork. These is your typical sports movie for kids where the coach needs to change. In doing that, he helps these kids find their potential. What is shocking to me was how good Jackson could skate. The scenes on the ice look to be older kids with good camera work to make them look like the actors we know. There are unbelievable aspects here, but I still enjoyed my time actually seeing this movie through.
Before ending this review, I will say that the kids are annoying, but I expect that. Estevez is good as the coach. I like that he is a mirror to Smith until he realizes the error of his ways. Joss Ackland, Heidi Kling and M. C. Gainey are good to help Gordon find his way. I like how complicated they make Sommer's character. Jackson, Henson, Weiss, Adams, Schwartz, Moreau and Smollett are all solid kid actors that were in multiple things. No one is great. They work in the confines of what they need here. If you are into Disney movies, especially sports ones then give this a go. It isn't fully believable. It is more of a shut off your brain for sure.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.