if you cant beat em, beat ON em *spoilers perhaps*

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2004)

Slap Shot is truly the greatest sports film of all time. It took a serious issue, such as violence in hockey and showed exactly what it did to the sport. With subtle humor, it shows that violence in hockey has made a mockery of the sport. At the same time, a clever story which also includes a sports issue that is rising to importance in current society is included. Owners versus players. Another serious issue is the fact that Charlestown (think Charleston West Virginia) is dying, as the region has been in real life.
All the subtle humor (Ned the gambling winner, homophobia, drunkeness, hockey wives missing husbands, the Canadians totally out of place, strange promotions, the ignorant stupid sportswriter, and the oblivious sports commentator) blended with the physical humor (the hansons flipping over the hotel guy, the 70s styles, hockey puck to the head of the organist, mooning the chiefs protestors). Its a perfect blend of hilarity and yet a perspective on life as it is. I own the movie (and have a poster with the Hansons on it) and I have seen it a million times and I havent found a better sports movie out there. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. 10/10