Keanu Reeves is perfectly cast in the quarterback role of this entirely predictable but utterly entertaining gridiron comedy about a mixed bag of working class joes and forgotten college football stars recruited to scab for an NFL team when their spoiled millionaire players go on strike. Director Howard Deutch puts a fresh and funny spin on the formulaic script, taking several pages from the play book of sports flick sage Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup)--including a sparky romance between Reeves and the sexy, sassy and sports-savvy head cheerleader (Brooke Langton, Melrose Place). The Replacements is full of ear-to-ear grins and fun performances from the likes of Orlando Jones (Mad TV) as a butter-fingered speed demon tapped to play tight end, Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill) as a chain-smoking lush of a Welsh field goal kicker, and scene-stealing Jon Favreau (Swingers) as a muscle-headed, mad-dog SWAT member, drafted to pummel anyone with the football in his hands. Recommended. (R. Blackwelder)
The Replacements
Warner, 118 min., PG-13, VHS: $69.50, DVD: $24.98, Nov. 28 Vol. 15, Issue 6
The Replacements
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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