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The Replacements Customer Reviews (19 - 21 of 38 Reviews)

The Replacements delivers
When the pros go on strike Gene Hackman is brought in as the new coach of the Washington Sentinels. He has to build a team of replacement players capable of winning three out of four to get to the playoffs. He assembles a team including a washed out all american Quarterback, a ex-soccer player with a gambling problem, a psyco cop, a preaching tailback, a deaf tightend, a sumo wrestler, a temporarly released con and a fast big mouth wide receiver that couldn't catch a ball if his life depended on it.

I love this movie. I would recommend this film to anyone who likes football. Its full of laughs, sure you see some of them coming but there still funny. Jon Favreau was great as Bateman the psyco cop turned middle linebacker. The soundtrack is awesome. The DVD has a decent amount of options. My only complaint is that the movie seems to have some editing problems during the football games. It just was not pieced together correctly. If you have your doubts about this film rent it you wont be disapointed.

Very Predictable, But Still Good
As football movies go, "The Replacements" doesn't break any new ground. I found it rather similar to "Necessary Roughness" except that the latter movie dealt with a college football team on probation whereas this film is about a pro team that replaces its striking players with unknowns looking for a second chance at glory. The rather ugly word "scab" comes to mind here and thankfully is used only a few times in the film.

Keanu Reeves is good but unremarkable as ex-college quarterback Shane Falco, who choked in a bowl game only to become a footnote in college football history. One customer reviewer refers to Reeves' performance as a "comeback", but I question the accuracy of that statement. "The Replacements" is Reeves' first movie since "The Matrix", which although critically panned did reasonably at the box office and is somewhat of a cult favorite. I for one don't think his career was in decline to begin with. Gene Hackman turns in his usual fine performance as the team's coach, rehired by owner Jack Warden.

As one might expect with this type of picture, the replacement players are a ragtag unruly bunch until Falco provides some much needed leadership. From there, the team continues until its last game before the playoffs by which time its regular quarterback has decided to cross the picket line. I don't want to spoil the rest of the picture but I'm betting you already know how it ends by this time. Although very predictable, this movie is still fun to watch because it doesn't take itself that seriously.

The best football movie ever made, YES!
As shocking as it may be, when you think about it, the football movies of the past, to include Oliver Stone's excellent but dark, "On Any Given Sunday" simply do not match this film. I will even place this film in the all-time greats like "Pride of the Yankees" and "The Natural".

First, we don't need to watch any more tragedies on film, we need to see something that inspires us to overcome, and this film delivers: I'm surprised its considered a comedy! Hackman should get an oscar for this film because his narration and actions drive the film and create yet another complex character from the mind of the master. Hackman's Coach knows that the men he wants to be his replacements are great, he is frustrated that life hasn't shown them that and he wants to set them up for success, not failure. He believes in them as human beings, not just as football players, that if they can get a "second chance" they will shine. His talks with Keanu Reeves' charachter, reveal a candor and leadership style you should really consider. He tells him flat out he wants to see the man and the ability come together because it will be wonderful to see or words to that effect, his belief in the REALITY that Reeves can deliver are stupendous. Later he instructs his Quarterback, in the hour of decision, the leader wants the ball in his hands.

Along the way, Reeves meets a sexy head cheerleader and there is a nice romance where she begins to believe in him, too. The football action scenes are the best yet to grace movie screens, you feel like you are in shoulder pads/helmet again. What I like was how just before the final game that would decide whether they go to the play-offs or not, Reeves gets canned by front-office politics in favor of the arrogant Joe Theismann-type "all pro" quarterback who is afraid he will lose his job. You are not really sure how the film will end at this point, the team follows the leadership of Reeves but are losing under the arrogant vet. The coach gets a phone call.

I will not give away the ending but Hackman's voice over after the game, clinches it, I paraphrase: "All men once they have touched greatness in their lives are changed forever".

AND THIS IS THE POINT!!!

Just once, do something great in your life! Go all out and let yourself know that you can do it, once you know this you will be changed forever. The world doesn't let you or want you to know that greatness is within your grasp, this is why it beats you down. Find your gift you have been given and act on it, this is the true attitude "replacement" we need and this film shows us how to get it.

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