Fantastic

Rating: Null/10 (5 February 2004)

I saw the film at a special preview in Las Vegas (tickets were given to people who showed up early, in hockey gear to the local ECHL team a few days before the showing). The film was not so much a bash of the Soviets (as some have suggested), but about a team who represented their country during a period of bleak news. The country was in a recession, with double-digit inflation and interest rates, gas shortages, a weak president (Carter) who essentially told us our best days were behind us, and a Soviet enemy who appeared to be winning the cold war (taking Afghanistan) and dominated Olympic hockey. The team gave the United States a huge booster shot in a bleak period. If we could beat the Soviets on the ice (where they dominated the world), maybe we could also triumph over the other challenges we faced.

The values of the story are hard work, dedication to a team instead of individual glory, and determination to beat big odds to win. Was the team underestimated? Probably, but they were underestimated because nobody thought a coach could push them into being the best conditioned team, and into refusing to be intimidated by the Soviets. A scene, probably included for dramatic effect was Herb pushing the players hard until one of them finally gave him the right answer to "Who do you play for?". Instead of his college team (the answer previous given by all players who were asked the question), he responded "The United States of America".