Pros on strike. Everyday guys get to play.
In this comedy, a mismatched crew of outsiders get a second chance at greatness when they are recruited to play pro football after the regular team goes on strike. As they amaze everyone with their winning streak, the ragtag group discovers in itself the ability to dream bigger. Based on the 1987 professional football players' strike that led to teams recruiting players from various sources (eg ex-university, ex-pro, minor leagues).
Secret Agent Acid Thunder
I can't say much about The replacements because I don't want to spoil it for you. Ha. Ha.
It's American, it's about grid iron and it's only one step up from Varsity blues. I didn't like that movie either.
Secret Agent Matti
Varsity blues meets Remember the Titans on Any given Sunday. The replacements isn't as bad as Secret Agent Acid Thunder thinks, it's just more blatant in celebrating the ideology of sport star as hero. The tacky voice over from Gene Hackman that was tacked on the end is tragic, but Americans aren't very intelligent so they need the blatantly obvious spelled out for them.
Think of it as Gladiator without the benefit of a historical setting and remember that the citizens of the USA just voted a second George Bush as president.
FYI: Watch out for David Denman, who plays the deaf running back: I predict a future in film.
M (Low level violence, low level coarse language)
117 minutes (1:57 hours)
Film: 9 November 2000
VHS rental: 2 May 2001