FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
Frances Chung
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
Mandeep Tyson
The acting in this movie is really good.
leodini-be
Just like that for Keanu, I started watching this movie. But it's awesome. I really enjoyed it.
ivko
This movie is entertaining, but it's basically one giant straw man argument glorifying the team owners position concerning player's salaries. The professional players are all greedy jerks while the owners are in it for the "love of the game". Here's the reality:--Forbes estimates that a team purchased for $180 million would be worth $2.4 billion 20 years later (based upon Jeff Laurie's purchase of the Eagles in 1996), and that is not counting income generated over those 20 years, just purchase and sale price. That translates to about a 13 percent annual capital growth.-- On average, Forbes calculates that NFL teams earn $89 million in annual operating income before debt service and taxes.-- The average NFL player income is $1.9 million/year, but this is highly misleading because a relatively small number of players make larger incomes while most make a lot less for a much shorter time. According to Business Insider, 70 percent of players in the NFL are between 22 and 27, and their average salary is closer to $1.4 million/year.-- The average career length in the NFL is about 6 years according to the NFL and 3.3 years according to the player's association. Less than 10 percent play past 30.-- 96 percent of former player's brains studied post mortem showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy; basically, severe brain damage that leads to horrific conditions later in life. This doesn't mean 96 percent of players have this, but it does mean these guys are putting themselves at serious risk for their careers.-- According to the book "League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth", the league (i.e. the owners and administrators) probably knew about the long-term health complications of playing NFL football for years and worked hard to keep it out of the news and undercut studies about it.Yes, NFL players still make a lot more than most of us ever will, but I have trouble thinking the owners are the good guys and the players are all greedy tools. Whenever I see this movie I can't help thinking about all of this, entertaining or not.
knoxville_born
This story is based on Tony Robinson, a star UT Vol quarterback who's off the field exploits landed him in jail following a great college career. During the NFL strike of '87 he engineered one of the greatest sports upsets of all time by leading the Redskins to a 13-7 victory against the Cowboys, who had already returned they're star players to the field. It was a big deal at the time not only because of the upset, but because Tony Robinson was a black quarterback in the NFL at a time when you hardly ever saw black QB's. Of course, the Skins won the Super Bowl that same year with Doug Williams at QB, the first black QB to play in the big game. However, Hollywood whitewashed this story like it does with so many by casting a very white Keanu Reeves to play the role. If this was a movie about replacement surfers, Keanu would be perfect. However in this stinker, he's horrible. This could have been a great comedy with a light hearted inspirational tale. Trust me on this, it's not.
Brian Wright
The football season approaches and I searched around for football movies that "make a difference." But I can honestly say for me The Replacements with Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman occupies a special status in the football-movie heavens. I've watched it many times and have been thoroughly amused even inspired on each occasion. So what's the appeal? Probably that it's more escapist fun with a lot of very cool music, clever humor, and wicked choreography than you find in more realistic portrayals. ... For my complete review of this movie and for other movie and book reviews, please visit my site TheCoffeeCoaster.com.Brian Wright Copyright 2007
