Plot
This comedy is about the residents of a small town who get over-excited when their hockey team gets chosen to host a televised event
Release Year: 1999
Rating: 6.4/10 (15,226 voted)
Critic's Score: 49/100
Director:
Jay Roach
Stars: Russell Crowe, Burt Reynolds, Hank Azaria
Storyline When Mystery, Alaska's amateur hockey team accepts a challenge to play against the New York Rangers, the entire population must put their petty differences aside and pull together as their small town becomes the center of a nationally televised event.
Writers: David E. Kelley, Sean O'Byrne
Cast: Russell Crowe
-
John Biebe
Hank Azaria
-
Charles Danner
Mary McCormack
-
Donna Biebe
Burt Reynolds
-
Judge Walter Burns
Colm Meaney
-
Mayor Scott Pitcher
Lolita Davidovich
-
Mary Jane Pitcher
Maury Chaykin
-
Bailey Pruitt
Ron Eldard
-
'Skank' Marden
Ryan Northcott
-
Stevie Weeks
Michael Buie
-
Connor Banks
Kevin Durand
-
'Tree' Lane
Scott Grimes
-
'Birdie' Burns
Jason Gray-Stanford
-
Bobby Michan
Brent Stait
-
Kevin Holt
Leroy Peltier
-
Ben Winetka
Taglines:
A Small Town on the Outskirts of Greatness
Release Date: 1 October 1999
Filming Locations: Alberta, Canada
Box Office Details
Budget: $28,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $3,102,191
(USA)
(3 October 1999)
(1673 Screens)
Gross: $8,888,143
(USA)
(26 December 1999)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Mike Myers's character Donnie Shulzhoffer seems to have the same mannerisms and sayings as Canadian hockey commentator, hero and all-around legend Don Cherry.
Goofs:
Factual errors:
At the end of the movie in the credits the year is MCMXCVIX, an impossible combination of Roman numerals (it should read "MCMXCIX").
Quotes: Judge Walter Burns:
Hi. What's wrong? Joanne Burns:
Uh, Walter, get out. This is private. Judge Walter Burns:
I'm entitled to know what's going on under this roof. After all, I am the father of this child... Joanne Burns:
Walter, if you don't leave, I *swear* I'll tell you. Judge Walter Burns:
[pause]
Right.
[leaves]
User Review
It's More Than A Hockey Game
Rating: 9/10
It's cold in the small hamlet of Mystery, Alaska, but there's plenty of
warmth in `Mystery, Alaska,' the film, directed by Jay Roach, about the town
and the sport that is ingrained in the collective consciousness of the
community. Hockey is the game, and when a former resident, now a
journalist, writes a story about Mystery's home-town team and their
`Saturday Game,' and it ends up as a three page spread complete with
pictures in Sports Illustrated, it has far reaching effects on the populace
of this small dot on the map. Soon the town is turned upside down,
embroiled in an event, the proportions of which, to them, are huge.
Needless to say, it involves hockey and an encounter with a high-profile
professional team. Yes, there is a lot of hockey in this movie, but be
advised, this film is not `about' hockey; this is a movie about people– real
people– and what makes them tick.
Roach has crafted a thoroughly entertaining and emotional story of want and
need, dignity and desire, obsession and love, and he's captured it all
through the winning performances of a stellar ensemble cast, the most
prominent of which is Russell Crowe. The charismatic Crowe, finally on his
way to superstardom thanks to his turn in `Gladiator' plays John Biebe,
Mystery's sheriff and captain of the hockey team. His rugged good looks and
persona fit the character perfectly, and he puts all of his myriad personal
resources to work to put it across, and that he does. Also notable is the
personable Mary McCormack as John's wife, Donna, who does a great job of
fleshing out the character of this woman who made what she deems to be the
right choices in her life, without regrets or apologies to herself or anyone
else. It's a refreshing portrayal, and the chemistry between her and Crowe
is unmistakable. Also adding to the overall texture of this film are Hank
Azaria, as Charles Danner, the journalist who gets the whole thing rolling;
Burt Reynolds, as Judge Walter Burns, a man forced to deal with his own
personal issues, which include a son, Birdie (Scott Grimes), a member of the
hockey team; Colm Meany, as Scott Pitcher, Mayor of Mystery, and Lolita
Davidovich as his wife, Mary Jane; Maury Chaykin, as Bailey Pruitt, the man
who seems to personify the very essence of Mystery's spirit; and Ron Eldard
as `Skank,' another member of the team who's good for two things–suffice to
say that hockey is one of them.
Mercifully, `Mystery, Alaska' never pursues the beat-the-dead-horse cliched
mentality that sports `teaches one to be a team player and builds
character.' Instead, Roach has given us a worthwhile, memorable movie with
a human touch, and because of that, in the end these are people you care
about, as individuals as well as a community. The climactic game is
exciting and far from predictable, beginning with the celebrity they bring
in to sing the National Anthem. This may not be one of Russell Crowe's
biggest or highest profile movies, but this is one he's going to be able to
look back upon with pride, because it's right up there with his best.
Remember, you don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy this movie; all that's
required is that you have a membership in the club know as Mankind. I rate
this one 9/10.
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