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#11 Slap Shot 1977





A failing ice hockey team finds success using constant fighting and violence during games.

Director
George Roy Hill

Writer
Nancy Dowd

Starring
Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Strother Martin

As a life long hockey fan, Slap Shot is considered a gem of a movie. Growing up playing hockey, this was the one movie that every hockey player had watched. Everyone knew every line, everyone could predict the next scene. People would, and still do, dress up as the legendary Hanson brothers for Halloween. This movie mixes comedy and sport just right and ends up getting a top class movie.

The Charleston Chiefs are a failing Federal Hockey League team whose games are poorly attended. As rumours of the team folding begin to swirl, the teams player & coach Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman), devises a plan to get the team interested again in order to possibly sell the team at the end of the season. Dunlop tells the team that a possible buyer in Florida will be keeping an eye on the team, monitoring whether or not he will buy the team so the players can keep playing hockey. This is all a lie, of course.

One of the features that Reggie wants to change is the atmosphere and style of play of his team. He signs three brothers, the Hanson's, to strictly start fights and strike fear into the opposition. This method soon begins to pay off as the Hanson's style of play attracts many more fans to the game, as well as success on the ice.

The acting of the Hanson brothers is nothing spectacular, but it's the subtle things that make me laugh like crazy. Whether it be them playing with toys and cars in their hotel rooms, or always sitting together on the bench with a stone cold look on their face. When Reggie calls on the guys to do something, the Hanson's are always echoing his thoughts in a way that only confuses him. Their constant off beat cracks and cheers mixed in with their fearless goon like nature on the ice makes for a hilarious sport comedy.

Even if you don't like hockey, this is a sport movie that everyone should see at least once.