From Deseret News archives:
Varsity Blues
Film review
Don't get me wrong. Adam Sandler's biggest hit to date was surely one of his weakest efforts. But the miserable gridiron comedy "Varsity Blues" makes that film look like genius by comparison.
Of course, maybe that's not a huge surprise, considering that "Varsity Blues' comes from filmmaker Brian Robbins, who also produced and directed the horrible kiddie comedy "Good Burger."
Apparently Robbins and screenwriter W. Peter Iliff couldn't decide whether to make a comedy or a social drama (portions of the movie strain to be "North Dallas Forty: The Early Years"). In the end, it's a disastrous combination of both.
One person who can't be happy about that is TV star James Van Der Beek ("Dawson's Creek"), who looks alternately bored and disgusted here. He stars as Jonathan "Mox" Moxon, the second-string quarterback for the West Canaan Coyotes, a perennial Texas high school football power.
And despite the fact that he and the school's revered head coach, Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight), clash over game strategy, Mox continues to win games and becomes the town's new football hero.
However, not everyone is happy with Mox's on-field success. His girlfriend, Julie (Amy Smart), thinks it's gone to his head. Mox also reconsiders his standing after he sees what effects Kilmer's coaching methods have had on his teammates (Ron Lester, Scott Caan and Eliel Swinton).
For a movie that's less than two hours long, the material feels ridiculously padded (such as a lengthy strip-club scene). And, as mentioned, there's a huge problem with the tone of the piece, which is neither funny enough to get the necessary yuks nor dramatic enough to have any emotional heft.
The cast doesn't seem inspired, either especially Van Der Beek, whose intermittent Texas drawl is a hoot. And Voight, who could have phoned in his performance (the latest in a line of one-note villains from the one-time Oscar winner).
"Varsity Blues" is rated R for considerable profanity, gridiron violence, some gunplay and a beating, full female and male rear nudity, use of vulgar slang and some crass gags, simulated drug use and brief simulated sex.
Recent comments
It's so crap! The writing is not witty, it didn't engage me
at
all....
bilbo | March 24, 2007 at 7:28 p.m.
Saw it after winning the Oscar. Greatly disappointed! The
other...
Anna | May 12, 2000 at 6:55 p.m.
And the only reason it gets that many stars is because the
actors...
Julie Frost | May 18, 1999 at 6:58 a.m.
Cast: James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Amy Smart
Find a Movie Theater
- Stocks zigzag after rally 2:53 p.m.
- Placebo power behind cures 2:49 p.m.
- 'Suspect just shopping screenplay' 2:49 p.m.
- '08 loss 'learning experience' for TCU 2:47 p.m.
- AMA: repeal 'don't ask,don't tell' 2:46 p.m.
- Jackson's executors approved 2:43 p.m.
- Mapleton rejects mtn. airport bid 2:42 p.m.
- Plea in sex abuse streaming case 2:40 p.m.
- NJ man sues FBI over his detention 2:39 p.m.
- More theatrics at Gotti trial 2:39 p.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Senators want food tax restored
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Utes get extra motivation
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Price injured; Miles has cast removed
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- House passes health care bill
245 - TCU showdown has big implications
185 - Lobo suspended
183 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
137 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
This sounds like a reporter trying to make a story without the facts. It...
HAHA D Will plays selfishly? He had 6pts and 16 assits vs. the knicks, and...
I don't think the percentage difference between college-education women in...
Huh? You say if Utah wins you can look forward to beating Utah and getting a...
Riggs girl you did well. Had quite a good number of goals.
Not necessarily. If Utah wins, Utah can break into top-10. And who...
I wholeheartedly agree with Joe Moe. As a mother of 3 sons, I am often...
Ashley....now why did she make the 1st team....I mean she played with the...
Conejo, I'm sorry you feel so arrogant that you have to put down the majority...
vote democrat - its easier than getting a job



