D2: The Mighty Ducks

Those underdog Ducks are back on the ice, if you'll forgive the mixed metaphor. Yes, it's "The Mighty Ducks 2" . . . er, that is, "D2: The Mighty Ducks."

Emilio Estevez reprises his role as the Minnesota attorney who was forced in the first film to coach a peewee hockey team, eventually discovering there is more to life than limos and caviar and beautiful women.

And you can tell he learned his lesson, because this sequel shows us he has given up his law practice for a professional hockey career. Right.

But as the film opens, Estevez has been shut out of the big leagues due to a knee injury. So, he returns home feeling rather downtrodden, when his old friend Jan (Jan Rubes) tells him about an opening to coach a team for the Junior Goodwill Games in Los Angeles. He can even recruit his original Mighty Ducks, along with a few more pint-size eccentric players from various ethnic backgrounds.

Naturally, Estevez is reluctant — and just as naturally, he's sucked into the world of big money, celebrity and TV promotions. Until he eventually sees the error of his ways and leads the team to victory over those nasty, unethical Icelandic players.

Oops. I hope I didn't spoil the ending for you.

This is formula stuff, of course, and it wouldn't be so bad if it were more of a sequel and less of a remake.

And though the first third or so moves along pretty well, the film really bogs down as it progresses, laying on the sentiment with a trowel and wallowing in silly plot machinations and bad jokes.

"D2," an obvious take on the nickname for "Terminator 2," is a real waste of time. Unless you're 12 or younger. And even then you're patience is likely to be tested.

You know you're in trouble when Wayne Gretzky, who shows up for a cameo, looks like he'd rather be taking a hockey puck in the face.

"D2" is rated PG for a few mildly vulgar comments and hockey violence.