Mystery, Alaska is a "feel good", "against the odds" sports themed movie, taking place in a remote Alaska town. The movie features Russell Crowe, Burt Reynolds and Mary McCormick.
Hockey is life in Mystery, where kids grow up watching, talking about and playing pond hockey. Each Saturday, the town comes together to watch the young men in the community play a game against each other on the pond. When an Alaska native moves away and writes a piece on the small hockey town in Sports Illustrated, the NHL takes notice and suggests that the New York Rangers play an exhibition game in Mystery against the Mystery "team.". Could brotherhood, passion and love for the game prevail over players paid millions, with the best equipment and facilities? This film reminds me a bit of Hoosiers- both heartwarming stories of the underdog!
I loved the realistic setting of the movie. Mystery is everything we love about a small town-quant, with a pond in the middle of town where the hockey action takes place and complete with small town drama. You can't beat the beautififul mountain backdrop! In addition to a beuatiful, realistic setting, you can't help but love Burt Reynolds who plays Judge Walter Burns. As strict, no-nonsense Judge of the small town, and father to one of the Mystery players. Initially not a fan of the idea of his son playing hockey, the town spending money on hosting the Rangers or frankly anything else that sounds fun. Eventually he is asked and hestiently agrees to coach the team and his heart is softened, both to his son and the game.
I could do without the "lifetime-esque" sub-story of the native guy, who comes back to town and attempts reconnection with his high-school sweetheart is campy and unnecessary to a plot that can hold its own without the "made for tv" nonsense.
The funny, one-liners peppered throughout, coupled with the feel good, "underdog wins the day" story line make for an enjoyable movie!
Hockey is life in Mystery, where kids grow up watching, talking about and playing pond hockey. Each Saturday, the town comes together to watch the young men in the community play a game against each other on the pond. When an Alaska native moves away and writes a piece on the small hockey town in Sports Illustrated, the NHL takes notice and suggests that the New York Rangers play an exhibition game in Mystery against the Mystery "team.". Could brotherhood, passion and love for the game prevail over players paid millions, with the best equipment and facilities? This film reminds me a bit of Hoosiers- both heartwarming stories of the underdog!
I loved the realistic setting of the movie. Mystery is everything we love about a small town-quant, with a pond in the middle of town where the hockey action takes place and complete with small town drama. You can't beat the beautififul mountain backdrop! In addition to a beuatiful, realistic setting, you can't help but love Burt Reynolds who plays Judge Walter Burns. As strict, no-nonsense Judge of the small town, and father to one of the Mystery players. Initially not a fan of the idea of his son playing hockey, the town spending money on hosting the Rangers or frankly anything else that sounds fun. Eventually he is asked and hestiently agrees to coach the team and his heart is softened, both to his son and the game.
I could do without the "lifetime-esque" sub-story of the native guy, who comes back to town and attempts reconnection with his high-school sweetheart is campy and unnecessary to a plot that can hold its own without the "made for tv" nonsense.
The funny, one-liners peppered throughout, coupled with the feel good, "underdog wins the day" story line make for an enjoyable movie!