The Mighty Ducks

The Mighty Ducks-720P

The Mighty Ducks-360P

The Mighty Ducks-480P

I really like this movie out of the three Ducks movies because to me, this is the only one that feels like a genuine movie to me. A movie that was made from the heart. The reasons for it? There are two of them that stick out to me. Gordon Bombay goes through one hell of a transformation. He goes from a drunk lawyer to reconnecting with his old love and facing a demon that has haunted him up to now. Even the introduction scene carries an ominous feeling. The goalie facing the young Bombay looks more like a menacing monster; as well as it should be since it represents a horrible memory for the man. I remember being scared of that scene as a child, just cause the goalie looked so scary. His character's transformation over the movie is the heart of this film. It's a protagonist who has a REAL arc - beginning, middle, and end. It's all carried out with such poignancy as well. Emilio Estevez does great acting. The child actors do a good job. I mean, they're KIDS, and this is a kid movie...but they pull it off nicely. The kids who play Charlie, Fulton, Jesse, and Banks especially. They make you take their characters seriously, which is different from a normal kids movie. The kiddy parts don't make me cringe, but make me smile. I guess because it's not overdone. Sorry to say, but the other two movies to me relied too much on either hockey action or gimmicks (although I DID like D3's grittier hockey action and more serious story with Charlie). They didn't have the heartfelt story that this one did. It's all balanced out to entertain the little kids, but Gordon Bombay's arc is one for the adults. I also miss the kids that would end up not being in the future movies. In D3, when Gordon says that the Ducks were unchanged since the beginning, I cringed. I guess I'm the type to cling to sentimental values like that. This was the best movie out of the trilogy to me. That's because it felt like a REAL movie.

I had heard the title a few times before, and I may have occasionally watched the television cartoon series Disney created that was loosely based on this, so I had to see what it was all about, from director Stephen Herek (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 101 Dalmatians). Basically young hotshot lawyer Gordon Bombay (The Breakfast Club's Emilio Estevez) is arrested for drink driving, and the court orders him to serve community service by coaching a children's hockey team, not very good in their league, and of course he is not happy. As he gets to know the youngsters though, and gains their like for him as well, he teaches them good skills of how to play and ultimately win a match. They also manage to get a sponsor and don the team name of The Ducks, but while all this is going on Gordon still has flashes from his past where he played hockey himself, watched by now apposing Coach Jack Reilly (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman's Lane Smith), and he lost. It is coming close to the finals, and he is possible to lose the team due to his sentence having come to an end, and all the young members of The Ducks may be losing some hope for whatever reason. Of course everything comes back together in the end, Gordon watches his team score victory, and the last scene sees him going away to tryout in the minor league, and he promises to return for the next season (this obviously gives way for the sequels). Also starring Joss Ackland as Hans, Heidi Kling as Casey Conway, Joshua Jackson as Charlie Conway, Josef Sommer as Mr. Gerald Ducksworth, Elden Henson as Fulton Reed, Shaun Weiss as Greg Goldberg, Lost's M.C. Gainey as Lewis and Matt Doherty as Lester Averman. I will be completely honest and say that I didn't pay the fullest of attention to this, but even if I had I doubt I would have been entertained all the way through, it seemed pretty dull and rather predictable, it may have the heartwarming and sporty moments, but overall not a great family sports comedy. Adequate!

Though perhaps unknown to the warm-weather climates of the nation, youth hockey (and even hockey in general) is a big, big real. "Mighty Ducks" taps into that fan base with a fun little movie set in Minnesota that captures the fun, drama, and emotion of the experience. For a basic plot summary, this movie tells the story of Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), a corrupt lawyer who his forced into community in the form of coaching Minneapolis, MN youth hockey (an area in which he had some childhood experience). While at first, Bombay is hesitant to give even a modicum of effort towards the cause, he gains inspiration (whether positive or negative) from old-time mentor Hans (Joss Ackland), former coach Jack Reilly (Lane Smith), and bright-eyed youngster Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson). This is a pretty straightforward kids flick. It has the requisite goofy humor, sometimes cringe- worthy dialogue, and a heavy amount of rah-rah drama. Even if your kids aren't necessarily into hockey, they will like this type of movie. The reason why this movie transcends kiddie fare, though, is because it captures the essence of hockey. It treats the sport with a great deal of respect and reverence, which taps into the nostalgia of adults watching. Just like how "Little Big League" just "gets" baseball humor, "Mighty Ducks" does the exact same thing as hockey. Basically, you can't go wrong with this on family movie night. It has enough of everything to not bore any member of the family tears. In fact, it may (depending on your interest in sports/hockey) become a sort of cult classic in your own family.

The Mighty Ducks is an incredible movie, check that, f'n legendary. They named a Pro Hockey Team (NHL or National Hockey League) after the team from the movie. In my eyes this movie is a 10 out of 10. But I do question the reliability of the law firm Gordon Bombay worked at, Ducksworth, Saver & Gross. First off, the guy who runs the Law firm's name is Mr. Ducksworth, seems slimy. Secondly, Gordon Bombay is a drunk idiot who gets a DUI, for what I believe is the 3rd time, and still somehow has a job. Instead of firing him, they suspend him and force him to coach an awful pee-wee hockey team. YOU ARE A LAW FIRM, WHY WOULD YOU NOT JUST FIRE HIM, makes you question if they know any real laws at all. Anyway, Gordo takes over just a garbage team and slowly turns them around with some great flopping techniques "take the fall, act hurt, get indignant" Rolls off the tongue. So Gordo, in an attempt to kiss up to his moronic boss, M. Ducksworth, he re-names District-5 as The Mighty Ducks. Cute at first, but troublesome in the long run. So, this stupid Law firm, then decides to fire Gordon, after he uses he's lawyerness (which he should be commended for) to find out the Leagues best player Adam Banks or Banksy, was playing for the wrong team. The awful Hawks, and should be playing for the M. Ducks. Banksy's dad and the vindictive 60 year old pee-wee hockey coach convince Ducksworth to fire Gord, if he doesn't allow Banksy to play for the Hawks. Gordy obvious tells them to Quack off and loses his Job. So, in-conclusion, DUI = Slap on the Wrist, follow the rules and guidelines of Pee-wee hockey and act with integrity, you get fired. Also, Gordon is somewhere around 27 years old and he's already a top Lawyer in the firm, so he's got to be awesome. But sure, fire him b/c a pee-wee hockey team won't have the best player. I'd hire any other law firm, one that isn't swayed by POLITICS! One plot hole I question. Gordon Bombay going off to play minor league hockey at the end of the movie? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. According to Hans, he stopped playing hockey at 9 y/o after he cost the Hawks a championship (the only one they lost in a 30 year period, Coach Jack Reilly wishes they would take down that 2nd place banner, and you know what he has a point!) So, no hockey from 9 to 27? I don't care how much natural talent you have, if you don't play hockey during that time period, you aren't going to be good enough to try out for the minor leagues. Coach Reilly kind of rules, dude is like 60 years old, and to my knowledge, his full time Job is to be a pee-wee coach of the Hawks. He has no problem holding grudges for an insanely stupid amount of time. When he first sees Gordy after 18 years, he makes it a point to indirectly call him a huge failure. All b/c he missed a penalty shot goal, shortly after the 9 y/o lost his father. That's some Bill Belichick level stuff. You have to question the refs during the games, they let the Hawks get away with some of the craziest things, those kids should be locked up for the crimes they committed on the ice. When the Ducks were just D-5, no ref should have allowed them on the ice without proper equipment. Stupid Goldberg had tape instead of pads, yep, tape! That is insane, but Goldberg is from Philly and likes the Flyers so that rules. Gerald Gardner, age 11 141 pounds, was wearing a football helmet, like get a grip refs! Terry & Jessie's Dad didn't give up his overtime for this! Couple kewl surprises in this movie. One, Pete from pete and pete is in the movie, nice add. Two, in the end credits, they play an absolute JAM, Winning it All by The Outfield, go listen to it. A+ song. And Lastly, Go Flyers.

The Mighty Ducks (1992): Dir: Stephen Herek / Cast: Emilio Estivez, Joss Ackland, Joshua Jackson, Lane Smith, Elden Henson: Another Bad News Bears knockoff with Emilio Estevez training a group of misfits to play hockey. Director Stephen Herek does a fine job with the lifeless material including the familiar production. He previously made the more inventive Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and the dumbfounded Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. With this film his screenwriter fails to deliver an excellent adventure, but like the babysitter in the other film, this one is totally dead. The screenplay is filled with types. You have the ominous big kid who can hit well but amateur in other areas. You have the kid who needs encouragement and whose mother will end up romancing with the coach she first disliked. Sound familiar? Estivez basically goes through the same tired formula that many others have with results that will surprise no one. Joss Ackland, Joshua Jackson and Lane Smith appear in cardboard supporting roles and everyone of them are pretty much interchangeable. Message regards teamwork but isn't that what all of these films are about? The only evidence of teamwork here is the effort put into making this garbage one of the worst films of the year. One should encourage director Herek to skate on over the studio and demand a better project. Score: 1 / 10

This movie, while not being Oscar material, is not by any means a bad film. However, this film, is extremely well done. The script was shaky at times, but the cast seemed to fit very well, and the music (mostly Queen songs) were very well used. The plot is a simple one...bad hockey team, overworking lawyer/ex-hockey player. The lawyer/hockey player gets a DUI, must coach hockey team. I'll try not to spoil the film's plot, though it is a basic one, with your predictable, yet heart-warming feeling. Be on the lookout for future Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson in his second, and most notable role (excluding playing Pacy) playing the leader, Charlie Conway. *** out of ****

I don't think The Mighty Ducks is a masterpiece in any shape or form, but it is an enjoyable film. I do agree that it is predictable, the plot is nothing particularly special and the ending especially doesn't really hold any surprises. But it is nicely filmed, with evergreen cinematography and pretty scenery and the music is pleasant. The script is good on the most part, there are some humorous parts but it is also somewhat touching, and the director Stephen Herek pitches the humour and melodrama at the right level. And the acting is spirited, with Emilio Estevez charming, dignified and fun as the disgraced lawyer who has to coach the worst ice hockey team and Joss Ackland solid as Hans. Also the ice-hockey scenes are done with just the right amount of flair. Overall, a sweet and fun movie, even with the predictable plot it is worth seeing. 8/10 Bethany Cox