Plot: What’s it about?
Sean Linden (Stephen Baldwin) was once a top hockey prospect, a first round draft choice, all pro player in the NHL, but his personal problems ended his run. He ran into trouble with gambling, casual sex, on ice mishaps, and really ruined his chance when he missed an important game winning shot. His miss made him suspected of throwing the game and soon enough, he was out of the league and left with minimal options. His love for the sport guided him toward a team in the infamous Federal League, where they play old time hockey and Linden’s team is the Charleston Chiefs, who are hard pressed to ever win a single game. But he has a lot of fun and is great friends with his teammates, who are a wild bunch filled with unusual personalities. Linden soon discovers that the team has been sold however, which means he and the others have to pack up & move, with Omaha, Nebraska as their new home town. It seems a media mogul with family values on the brain, Dean Claremont (Gary Busey) wants to form his own hockey team, kind of like the Harlem Globetrotters on ice. But that team won’t be the Chiefs, as they’ll be the team that always loses to Claremont’s hand picked Omaha Icebreakers. The lure of money keeps most of the players interested, but just how much will they take, even with a fat stack of cash involved?
As a fan of the original Slap Shot, I worried this direct to video would shame the original, but as it turns out, the filmmakers took a smart approach. Instead of making a real sequel, this film just follows the Chiefs through another season, with no mention of the events from the previous movie, but Slap Shot 2 does have some common threads. Of course, both films have the theme of hockey involved and both feature the Hansons, but Slap Shot 2 focuses more on slapstick comedy, as opposed to real drama. The original has more substance to be sure, but this sequel manages to provide an enjoyable, though silly ninety minutes, especially if you’re a fan of sports comedies like Major League or The Replacements. I was pleased to find the filmmakers didn’t shy away from profane language or blood and in addition, we even have some nice breast shots involved, which helps matter a lot. In the end, Slap Shot 2 cannot come close to the original, but it does what it should, it makes us laugh. The characters are weak, the storyline is thin, but when all is said & done, I think this is a solid slapstick picture and it more than deserves a look.
Although the Hansons steal a lot of scenes as expected, the central focus here is on Stephen Baldwin. I don’t often praise his technical merits and this will be no exception, but Baldwin is fun to watch here, without a doubt. I do think his performance drags a little when things get serious, but he keeps his head above water and it all works out. He is able to handle the comic moments with ease, especially when interacting with the other players, which is a trait vital to the realism of his character, who is the team captain. I admit he is an odd choice to be the lead character here, but in the end, I think Baldwin more than holds his own. Other films with Baldwin include Zebra Lounge, One Tough Cop, Cutaway, Bio-Dome, and The Usual Suspects. The cast also includes Jessica Steen (Armageddon, Trial and Error), Gary Busey (Soldier, Lost Highway), and of course, the Hansons, played by Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson, and Dave Hanson.
Video: How does it look?
Slap Shot 2 is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I was quite pleased with this presentation, as it has clean source materials, no serious flaws, and just looks terrific, without a doubt. I did see some small defects with the print, but they were very minor and nothing to be worried about. The colors look bold and bright at all times, while flesh tones come through as natural, as it should be. I found contrast to be superb also, with accurate detail throughout and razor sharp black levels also. This is another great transfer from Universal, a sharp overall picture with no serious drawbacks.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a surprise move, Universal has slapped on 5.1 tracks in Dolby Digital & DTS, so perhaps more of their lower profile titles will be DTS in the future. I don’t think this film gets much of a boost from the addition of DTS, but it is still nice to have on deck, to be sure. The audio is still solid however, especially during the game scenes, where we hear all the body checks, slapshots, and even the sounds of the net being nailed by the puck. So expect some nice surround use in the games, but the rest of the film has a more basic, but still solid presentation. The music sounds good and dialogue is spot on, so no real complaints. This disc also includes a French language option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a thirteen minute behind the scenes featurette, some talent files, production notes, a brief interview with the Hansons, and the film’s trailer.
