UFC on ice with some good amount of humor

Rating: 7/10 (8 August 2012)

While the movie "Slap Shot" was about a hockey team trying to be goons in order to gain popularity. This movie is about a likable goon played by Seann William Scott. Now Seann William Scott is well known for playing one of those obnoxious characters that think with the dick instead of the brain all the time. In fact Ryan played by Jay Baruchel is the obnoxious character in this movie. But while the protagonist Doug "The Thug" Glatt(Seann William Scott) might be a character that throws down when he has to but he is a very likable guy without being obnoxious. He is pretty much a nice guy that tries to stand up for whats right but when on the ice he can take a punch and dish out punishment. Glatt starts out as a bouncer and basically becomes a bodyguard on ice, this isn't necessarily a hockey movie. Cause it focuses more on the goons of hockey instead of legit hockey players. But the goon side of things is just so much fun to watch, especially how the blending of humor works with the violence on ice. Liev Schreiber is in this as Ross "The Boss" Rhea. I thought he would either be the villain on the other team or a rival to Glatt. But it works more in the manner of two opponents on different teams that have mutual respect for each other going at it with each other with all they got. Although it's mostly near the end with the showdown with these two character. Who are basically portrayals of a hockey goon legends Tiger Williams and Doug Smith or Terry O'Reilly. There is also a love interest part of this movie that doesn't really go anywhere much but adds slightly more to the humor I guess. The only legit hockey player in this seems to be Xavier Laflamme(Marc-Andre Grondin) who is traumatized in the movie from getting owned by Ross. The flaw of this movie though is that it doesn't have much of a development. Just 3 characters are somewhat memorable, like the Asian guy on the team. It would have stood out if he used his calculating skills on ice and other players on the team did something unique on ice that made them stand out. But pretty much none of the characters on the main team stands out. But when it comes down to it almost none of the characters are really fleshed out. Also the development of the story just seem a bit too quickly paced with not enough good development. Despite few flaws this is a movie worth watching, I can't really say hockey movie but it's a fun time. If you wondered what if Happy Gilmore did become a hockey player it might have been something like this, except without the anger management. Overall it's a good comedy that lacks some development but worth a watch for sure.
7.3/10