Review of Youngblood

Introduction

One year after St Elmo`s Fire` this film appears as a vehicle for good looking brat packer Rob Lowe. Now better known for playing Sam Seaborn in The West Wing Lowe featured in a few movies as a very young man.

Presumably it`s deemed time to roll out his back catalogue. There are no extras on this and it falls into the bargain bucket.
Also featured is Patrick Swayze in a supporting role before his big break in Dirty Dancing. If you blink you`ll miss him but look out for an unmemorable turn by Keanu `Matrix` Reeves.

A sporting movie this featuring a sport that doesn`t travel well to Britain though I`m sure it has its loyal fans. Ice hockey is very big in Canada, America and Russia where they have a lot of ice rinks and a lot more ice and snow to practise on. Ice hockey more than any other sport seems to be based around fighting at least that`s the impression thus film gives.

Dean Youngblood is seventeen and he has his chance to make it in the world of ice hockey. He can see no future on his father`s farm and he`s not bright enough for college. His love of hockey is his one chance to live his life as he wants.

It`s quite a shock to be thrown into the thick of the action he is very fast but also small and is beaten up on his first outing. Braving being sewn up with no anaesthetic he is offered a place on the team. Board and lodging is offered and his landlady is very... obliging. He soon meets a girl who shares his interest in ice hockey. The bad news is she`s the coach`s daughter.

Video

From 1986 the film has survived relatively undamaged. As a budget release it has been cheaply transferred onto disc.

Audio

No problem with the sound I wish I could say that about the cheesy script. It`s a ho hum affair with the occasional lighter moment. But yet again it`s a young boy with a burning passion, clichéd characters and oh goody more sport.

Features

As a budget release expect nowt for owt.
The trailer pretty much explains the film and allows the viewer, if not the reviewer to not waste time with the film itself.

Conclusion

Ah this is a teen movie before we all outgrew them. These days this kind of aspirational film has been dumped for parodies and gross out films that prove more attractive at the box office. I can`t find many kind words to say about this film, Its moral is that `you have to fight for your right` to er play ice hockey. It reminds me of `Rocky` with a slightly different sport. The female characters are bland and poseable the men and boys are not much better. It is ridden with cliché and don`t waste your time. There are plenty of excellent movies involving sport but this isn`t one of them.