Plot: What’s it about?
Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) is the player/coach for The Chiefs, a minor league hockey team. And when I say minor league, it doesn’t get much more minor that these guys, suffice it to say they’re not that good. But they have a smalll following, consisting mostly of their wives/girlfriends and the locals who work at the mill. When the mill closes, it adds to their low attendance problems, and management sees the need to find a way to put asses in seats, and they find one. Actually, they find three. They sign the Hanson brothers, who wear horn rimmed glasses and sport short lings. From moment one on the ice, it’s obvious what the new approach is. Instead of traditional, finesse hockey, the Chiefs become a wrecking crew, fighting, cheating, and the fans love every second of it! The seats get filled, and management is happy. Early on, the players are informed this is the last season for the Chiefs. But a potential move to Florida comes up, in addition to Reggie’s love life problems. Will Reggie ever retire? Will he solve his marital issues? Will the Hansons kill someone on the ice?
Slap Shot is a sports movie, so if you have trouble watching sports segments, you might want to rent this first. But the scenes in this film are not like most, consisting of hard checks, on ice fights, and all sorts of colorful players. The film revolves mostly around how the team works on the inside, but not so much as to bore the audience. The story also deals with several back stories, including one player’s refusal to accept the new style, Reggie’s love life, and the team’s financial woes after the mill closes. While these may not seem like interesting topics, Slap Shot puts them all together in a fashion that makes them interesting. While we do focus on the players a lot, it’s a good thing, because these are a riotous crew of players. If you hate sports movies though, you better give this a rent or avoid it.
The movie puts most it’s efforts on Newman, who brings his loyal audience and reputation to this flick. As usual, he carries this movie quite well, and Newman’s fans will not be disappointed here. The rest of the cast is assemble, and Newman does a terrific job of bringing them all together. The cast does a very nice job, excellent for a movie of this type. Playing my favorite characters, the Hanson brothers, are Steve Carlson, Jeff Carlson, and David Hanson. I admit it, I’ve never heard of these guys, but they bring such comedy to Slap Shot, that I had to mention them here. The total rawness of these three are incredible. They really seem like they just stepped off the boat. The cast also includes Swoosie Kurtz (Dangerous Liasons, Vice Versa), Michael Ontkean (Tv’s Twin Peaks), Andrew Duncan (Used Cars), Jennifer Warren (Night Moves), Paul Dooley (Sixteen Candles, Shakes The Clown), Lindsay Crouse (The Insider), Strother Martin (The Wild Bunch, Brotherhood of Satan-YES!), and Jerry Houser (Magic).
If you’re like me, you like a blend of sports and comedy in a movie. If you’re a fan of Major League, Neccesary Roughness, and the like, you will enjoy Slap Shot. It’s a Mighty Ducks type film, however. These players talk like sailors, and sexual references are everywhere. So, Slap Shot may not be suitable for young kids, unless they’re cool little kids. There a dramatic side of Slap Shot, which is well played, but comedy is the main dish here. Not only is comedy brought to you via humorous lines, but also fantastic physical violence. I’ve always wanted to see a goalie get beat up, and you see that and more in this picture. If you like sports movies, with a adult edge, check out Slap Shot, it’s got everything you need.
Video: How does it look?
Slap Shot is presented in it’s original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is enhanced for widescreen televisions. A nice transfer, far superior than both the laserdisc and VHS releases. The movie shows a bit of grain, but due to the condition of the print, not this transfer. Very little artifacting or other flaws can found. Overall, a nice transfer, given the source material.
Audio: How does it sound?
Dolby Digital 2.0 is implemented, and it does a decent job. The movie has very little in terms of speaker shattering effects, but it features very crisp and clean dialogue.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The movie contains cast bios, some production notes and a threatrical trailer. Standard Universal issue.