Good Memories but OK film

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2012)

This movie was good but not great like I was expecting. A purely hockey movie, it missed a huge opportunity to tell the story from the viewpoint of being a springboard to the Reagan era which ushered in a return of national pride and the resurgence of a great nation. Instead, we get little snippets of insight into what was going on at that time but stay completely focused on hockey. Since that result is well known to everyone, it seemed very anticlimactic and even forcibly staged. I don't know why but it felt hallow. Instead of being a personal and heartfelt movie, all it tried to do was recapture the excitement of the 80 Olympics. However, with the shock value gone by a forgone conclusion, it just seemed like the wrong thing to focus on. Don't get me wrong, it's a story that should be told and I did enjoy it for what it was. We are treated to nice, in depth moments with Herb Brooks. I just wish there were more character development like that instead of hockey scene after hockey scene. The actual hockey skills on display are quite poor and it was almost distracting watching the director cut in and out to hide this fact. Somehow I give this movie a 7 out of 10 probably solely because of the memories it evokes rather then its own merits.