The Replacements

Rating:
Summary: I love this movie. I didn't want to.
Review: I finally broke down and bought The Replacements after keeping my rental copy for nearly three weeks. Though I confess to being a Reeves fan, I owned only two of his movies, and they didn't involve sports. It's a football movie, for crying out loud. I don't even watch the real thing.

The editorial review for this film hits the nail on the head. Is this movie formulaic? Yes. Cliche? Yes. Funny? YES. The thing is, football is really just the vehicle, if you will, for the idea that a group of people who don't meet the outlandish standards for inclusion in the 'professional' world, and who wouldn't choose each other to work with, much less hang out with, can bond, learn to appreciate each other's gifts, and create something much larger than the sum of their parts. It's 'attitude is more important than aptitude' wrapped in football and silliness.

(In case you need it later, the recipe for Football and Silliness: combine a deaf guy, a soccer player with a drinking/smoking/gambling habit, a couple gangsta guys, a sumo wrestler, a convict, a cop, a convenience store clerk, a preacher, and an almost-was college quarterback. Add a coach who thought his experience should trump a whiny millionaire's fit and got fired for it. Season with cheerleaders recruited from the strip club near the airport. Stir.)

I laughed out loud, not just the first time, but every time I've watched it. The fact that I have to label it a guilty pleasure doesn't detract from the fact that it is, indeed, a pleasure.

Rating:
Summary: Let's Call A Spade A Spade
Review: I can't help but laugh at the reviews that give this flick one star, two stars, comments like "snoozer", "waste of time". Come on people! This isn't an oscar winning movie. It isn't a thought provoking movie. This is a flick that you pop in the DVD player when you want to relax and watch something fun and predictable. What's so great about this movie is that it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. Yeah, it's cliche, but so what. If you want to watch a great film, watch 'Citizen Kane' or 'Casablanca'. If you want to laugh while hanging around with some good friends on a lazy Saturday night, watch 'The Replacements'!

Rating:
Summary: So-so football movie
Review: First, let me say that I am a big sports movie fan. I am not so much a K. Reeves fan (though I did enjoy his work in the Matrix). I also like Gene Hackman. But Hackman in this movie is somewhat of a wasted talent. His lines are pretty weak and his role is more cheerleader than coach. Denzel Washington in "Remember the Titans" - that's a coach - Hackman here is so-so. Reeves does okay. While not embarrasing, it's not the worst performance in the film. Those honors go to the many back-ups who were very one-dimensional and not fun too watch. Omar Epps character is good, and a couple other ones are believable, but overall, acting in this movie gets a C.

The actual football playing in the movie is also pretty weak. The hits don't look real, though some of the catches do.

The storyline itself is kind of unbelievable. Since when have professional sports used scabs? I think this used to happen in the 20s or something. A lot of inconsistencies in the story line. But overall it is an enjoyable movie that isn't a complete waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, come on everyone!
Review: This movie is FUNNY! I never expected to like it...a "Saturday-night-nothing-to-do" HBO movie, but I really loved it! The cheerleader try-outs alone are a good laugh! I've recommended The Replacements to others, even non-football fans, and the consensus is "laugh out loud". Okay, so Keanu isn't Pacino, and the sugar-sweet attempt at a secondary love story is unpleasant for all but the teeny-bopper set, but get real! It's a silly, funny movie and anything with Hackman, and cute guys in tight pants, is worth 90+ minutes of your time.

Rating:
Summary: Snoozer
Review: The Replacements really isn't a bad movie. It's something of a cross between Necessary Roughness, Minor League, and Police Academy. It's totally predictable, and not very entertaining as a result. The reason formula movie like this keep coming out of Hollywood is that we keep going to see them, buying them, and renting them.

All that holds it up are a few comedic scenes and the performances of the stars. John Madden and Pat Sumerall repeatedly announce the team's games, and they've got some great lines. Gene Hackman is under-utilized, but does a great job with his role. Keanu Reeves mails in another wooden performance and you're left wondering how he's ever cast in anything.

The cinematography is great, but the camera work isn't challenging. There's nothing wrong with the video or audio-both are well produced, but this isn't a title that will show off your home theater system.


Rating:
Summary: Funny premise killed by cliche
Review: This movie, in the first hour or so, actually is pretty funny. The pro-players all quit and they have to use replacements who, as you can imagine, aren't all there in the mind or body. Much of the humor around the movie comes from their antics, including a hilarious scene where the two bodyguards scare off the pros and defend Keanu Reeves, and another scene where all the players talk about how scared of spiders there are. The only character I didn't like was the head cheerleader, who comes off sweet and charming but doesn't seem offended by sluts nor the male lust after such women (wow, I wonder why women in real life aren't like that...).

Unfortunately, while this character might give you some funny characters, the plot is any thing but interesting. If you've seen more than two sport movies you may notice a lot of formulaic repitition. And you'll see it all here...

Of course, the team can't put themselves together at the start of the movie.

Of course, they all become buddies before the final game.

Of course, something bad happens before the final game.

Of course, the title team starts to lose in the opening plays.

Of course, everything is made right again and they start to win after the first half.

Of course, everything comes down to the final action of the game.

Of course, they win and everything ends happily.

As a result, this movie quickly became extremely boring. There is no attempt to even be original, and as a result the writing kills everything it built up in the past hour. Overall, this film is your basic cookie-cutter sport comedy. I wouldn't even suggest trying it, unless you are entertained by such elementary school humor as a girl making a BJ sign.