Whoa...

Rating: 2/10 (13 August 2000)

Based of course, on the infamous 1987 NFL players' strike, "The Replacements" feels as if it should have been made in 1987. Featuring the mind-numbingly stereotypical gaggle of misfits and outcasts, this film definitely leans more towards "Major League" forgettability than "Bull Durham" loftiness. And mind-numbingly-stereotypical might be the summary on this turkey. Take a moment and consider every possible sports cliché you can. Got 'em all? No? Well, the makers of "The Replacements" left no cliché stone unturned, believe you me - capped off with the most inane rah-rah speech ever put to celluloid (voiced soullessly by what-the-hell-am-I-doing-here Gene Hackman). By now you're gettin' that I didn't appreciate this thing, and maybe you're wondering "well, what about Keanu?"
Yeah, what about Keanu? Here's a hint: Remember what Mark Hamill did between "Star Wars" movies?
For a film trumpeting the merits of second chances, Keanu clearly takes a colossal bite out of his at the Hollywood A-List (having secured it of course, with "The Matrix", he is in full "Johnny Mnemonic" mode here). Of course, with two more "Matrix" movies on the way, Keanu can quietly cash his check and move on. It makes one wonder though, that this is the same bloke in "Little Buddha". Maybe the guy does have some acting range after all.
Incidentally, the only saving grace maybe, was Jon Favreau as the bull-in-the-china-shop sack machine, even though he reminded me of what's-his-name from the "Police Academy" series.
Steer clear, men. Football season is only a few weeks away.