Shakespeare's "Mighty Ducks"

Rating: 4/10 (28 February 1999)

First off, let me say I really wanted to like this movie. I'd heard nothing but great things about it, and a friend whose opinion I really trust said even not being a fan of Shakespeare that I would like it.
Well, I didn't. I'm not a fan of Shakespeare, though I do appreciate the artistry of his works, and therefore much of the "magic" of this movie was lost on me. And that means what was left for me to see on the screen was a very middle-of-the-road romantic comedy with a plot right out of "The Mighty Ducks," or any other come-from-behind sport movie you can think of. You've got a group of misfit actors (hockey players, baseball players, football players etc.) with a leader who's viewed as a loser by the public at large. He loves a girl who is dating a total jerk but because of social pressure their true love is to be denied. The home team is about to lose everything-- they can't get fans to pack the stands and are about to go out of business. Somehow Our Hero must turn his lovable band of losers into a cohesive team which he does through a series of wacky encounters. He even manages picks up supporters who were formerly against him, but see what he is trying to accomplish and lend their support. After much preparation, things look like they are going to fall into place. But right before the big game plans fall apart and the mood turns dark: the girlfriend is going to run off with the jock. The best players are sidelined. Some evil official is going to throw the game. The guy who can't do anything right is going to have to make a Big Play. My goodness, how will they ever overcome such odds?
The same way they always do in movies like this. The girl dumps the jock and declares her love for The Hero. The home team pulls out a stunning victory by pure strength of heart that gets a standing-o from the spectators. Even the guy who couldn't do anything right even overcomes a disability and becomes a hero. The crowd goes wild as the underdogs come in for a big win. But it's not over yet! The evil official steps in to declare the underdogs cheated-- the game is lost! But wait! An even higher power (which usually makes an appearance earlier in the film expressing only a mild interest in the game) shows up out of NOWHERE to publicly humiliate the bad guys and to validate the victory of the ragtag band of misfits who worked so hard to accomplish their goals.
This is a very cynical take on the film, but if you think about it, I think you'll agree that the plot is a very standard by-the-numbers affair. I thought the acting, direction and design of the movie were well done but I'd seen the story far too many times before, and ended up being bored as a result. And that, dear readers, is NOT entertainment.