Another feel good, lessons learned film from Disney

Rating: 7/10 (8 February 2004)

As a Canadian, I sat back with much anticipation north of the border for reviews of the new Disney film Miracle, chronicling the rise and eventual glory of the 1980 USA Hockey Team at the XIII Olympics. I knew as Canadians we would not take kindly to watching again the euphoria of a country winning at our national game. I knew that there would be the usual flag waving that American's like to put in their sports films and I knew this would put off even the most unbiased and objective of Canadian film reviewers. I knew that given all the above, it would be hard to find a positive review of the film even if it succeeded where most sports films fail. Unfortunately, I was right.
Miracle is the story of Herb Brooks, a coach with roots in the minor leagues that is chosen to lead a group of unknown hockey players against the powerhouse of the Russian team that had not lost in international competition in 20 years. Herb (Kurt Russell) adopts a new approach of taking the game to the opposition rather than simply defending against them. In efforts to accomplish this monumental feat, Herb raises eyebrows by taking on a group of hard workers rather than statistical players. `I'm not looking for the best players Jim, I'm looking for the right ones' he exclaims to his assistant coach Craig Patrick.
The results are at first, disasterous, but once the team begins to build character and believe in their coaches vision, the victories begin to amass and their road to the Olympic podium begins.
Anyone over the age of 35 will remember the Miracle on Ice. Russia had just invaded Afghanistan and there was much tension between the two world powers. The Olympics were expected to be boycotted by Russia due to President Jimmy Carters harsh words towards the Russian offensive, but cooler heads prevailed and athlete's were not punished for their governments politics.

Russia came into the Olympics the odds on favorite. They had not lost in international competition in years and had recently beaten the best the NHL had to offer just weeks before. The U.S. on the other hand did not even rank on the Olympic hockey radar. The previous Olympics saw the squad being trounced by scores of incredible discrepancy. But history was to be made in Lake Placid and American hockey was on the map.
Hockey movies have not done incredibly well at the box office. Sure, the Mighty Ducks was a small success spanning a few sequels, but if you were to pick the best hockey movie of all time, outside of Slap Shot there is not much to choose from (Youngblood, Mystery Alaska). However, director Gavin O'Connor does a good job of telling the story of the coach rather than the team, and this seems to work under the strong acting performance by Russell.
The movie does have faults. At over two hours, the film seemed longer than it should have been and the editing of the on-ice action seemed as if it was shot by different directors, one having a flare for following the play and other wanting to show the skates and low angle shots.

However, for anyone that remembers the series, all the elements and events were duplicated. Who can forget the goal with no seconds remaining at the end of the first period or the fact that Tretieck, the best goalie to maybe ever play the game, was benched by Russia for the remaining 40 minutes?

Miracle is a feel-good, bring your family to, kinda movie. It shows you what hard work and believing in yourself is all about, and really, how many movies can honestly credit themselves with that?