Top Ten (10-6)
10. The Best of Times.
9. Any Given Sunday.
8. The Little Giants.
7. The Waterboy.
6. The Last Boyscout.
Number 5
I had to do put a lot of thought into the placement for this movie. "The Longest Yard has been made twice, once with Burt Reynolds in the lead role, and this version starring Adam Sandler. At first I had my doubts about Sandler in this role, but he definitely found a way to make the character work for him. It's also a nice touch to have Burt Reynolds in the movie as well.
I planned on putting both versions in the list, but it was hard to decide which one was a better movie. Both movies have some great characters, and take a different spin on the common story. Unfortunately the movie tries too hard to be funny. From the prison cheerleaders to the guy with the burgers, it's just too much nonsense. The movie would have been much better if they'd just let Sandler and Chris Rock make the jokes and try to take the rest of the movie seriously.
Number 4
Once upon a time, Goldie Hawn was a silly girl who giggled and laughed every week on a show called "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." I don't think that anyone watching that show in the 60s would have imagined her becoming the actress she is today. Some of her earlier roles played off of that persona she used on TV, but she grew as an actress.
Wildcats is in the middle of her development period. She plays a coach who wants to get out of coaching the typical girl's sports and get into coaching football like her father did. It's an uphill battle and she gets put into the worst school with a team of slackers. I won't say much more about the plot, but I will say it is worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of "Overboard."
Number 3
Scott Bakula is everywhere. He was the time traveling Samuel Beckett. He was the captain of the first star ship Enterprise. He also played the nontraditional student/college quarterback for a team of misfits in this particular football movie.
Texas State University has been caught breaking NCAA rules and cannot offer scholarships and loses all but one player from the old team. They can only accept current students, and the dean decides to try and get rid of the team by making most of the students that try out ineligible. The coaches pull in a quarterback that decided not to go to college after his father's death, and a girl from the soccer team (Supermodel Kathy Ireland) to be the kicker. The rest of the team has to play iron man football (players play offense and defense) This movie also has Sinbad who isn't too overwhelming in the movie.
All in all this is a great movie. It's one of my personal favorite movies. Check it out.
Number 2
Burt Reynolds plays a former professional football player turned prison inmate who is forced to organize a game between the prisoners and the guards. Sound familiar? It should. It's the same basic plot of the Adam Sandler version of the movie.
So what do I like about this movie that makes it two places above the newer version? First, this movie treats the idea seriously. It isn't just a way to make a movie. The plot is completely focused on the game and not on jokes.
The casting is great too. You probably won't recognize most of the actors in this version, but they are all quality actors.
I do enjoy both movies, but this one is definitely better in my opinion.
Number 1
So here's where the shouting starts. "Where is Friday Night Lights?" "How could you not put Remember the Titans on your list?" Let's make sure to add "Lucas" and "Rudy" to the list of neglected movies too. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of these movies so it isn't fair for me to put them on the list.Enough about that, let's talk about "The Replacements." Football players are going on strike and the owner of the Washington Sentinels brings back his former coach, Jimmy Maginty, played by Gene Hackman. Maginty decides to build a team of people who have football experience, but haven't played much in the pros. This team includes a preacher, a grocery store clerk, a sumo wrestler, a deaf man, two body guards, a SWAT officer, and a former pro who is in jail. Now add Keanu Reeves to the mix as a down and out failed QB who is currently scraping stuff off other people's boats.
The movie is just a lot of fun to watch. It takes the games seriously, but it still manages to be a lot of fun. There is also the sub plot of hiring replacement cheerleaders (which doesn't make much sense) and they definitely add to the fun of the movie. Don't forget the standard squabbles between the team that's on strike and the replacements.
Definitely check out this movie, and maybe it will find a place on your top ten list too.
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