If I had to sum up this picture in one line I guess I would say, "Nice try." The major problem that I see is that David Ward tries to throw as many football cliches into an hour and a half movie as he can and, for the most part, the actors fail to rise above the mediocre script.
The cast is a talented one and this film helped to propel the careers of some semi-stars and one super star, but in the end the cliches are too much to overcome. We have Caan (who I have, do, and always will love no matter what roles he chooses) playing the long-time head coach whose job seems to be in jeopardy. And there's Craig Sheffer playing Heisman hopeful Joe Kane. Sheffer was wonderful in Robert Redford's adaptation of Norm MacLean's "A River Runs through It," but here he can't escape the cliche of the out-of-control star quarterback with father-son issues and a need to live life dangerously.
We also catch glimpses of the pumped up steroid user, the illiterate student athlete, the promising young freshman (Omar Epps), and the incumbent whose position he is trying to win.
Halle Berry, Kristy Swanson, and Joey Lauren Adams add some sex appeal to the film, but those early '90s wardrobes are hideous.
In my opinion this movie tries to show too much of everything, and in doing so, fails to show enough of anything. More of the plot should have been dedicated to the characters of Caan, Sheffer, or Epps in order to establish a better connection with the audience.
The football sequences are well done--I don't think any football movie has anything on this film here--but the characters aren't given enough time to develop.
Some things that annoy me about this movie: --Omar Epp's taunting as he is returning punts. It's so cheesy. --The terribly dated musical score. It's absolutely dreadful to listen to and almost ruins the entire movie.
4/10
The cast is a talented one and this film helped to propel the careers of some semi-stars and one super star, but in the end the cliches are too much to overcome. We have Caan (who I have, do, and always will love no matter what roles he chooses) playing the long-time head coach whose job seems to be in jeopardy. And there's Craig Sheffer playing Heisman hopeful Joe Kane. Sheffer was wonderful in Robert Redford's adaptation of Norm MacLean's "A River Runs through It," but here he can't escape the cliche of the out-of-control star quarterback with father-son issues and a need to live life dangerously.
We also catch glimpses of the pumped up steroid user, the illiterate student athlete, the promising young freshman (Omar Epps), and the incumbent whose position he is trying to win.
Halle Berry, Kristy Swanson, and Joey Lauren Adams add some sex appeal to the film, but those early '90s wardrobes are hideous.
In my opinion this movie tries to show too much of everything, and in doing so, fails to show enough of anything. More of the plot should have been dedicated to the characters of Caan, Sheffer, or Epps in order to establish a better connection with the audience.
The football sequences are well done--I don't think any football movie has anything on this film here--but the characters aren't given enough time to develop.
Some things that annoy me about this movie: --Omar Epp's taunting as he is returning punts. It's so cheesy. --The terribly dated musical score. It's absolutely dreadful to listen to and almost ruins the entire movie.
4/10