Youngblood Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1986

A young man leaves behind the farming life to pursue his dreams as a professional hockey player in Youngblood, but he soon discovers that the world of minor-league hockey can be more vicious than any boxing ring. The film really doesn't offer anything new to the "sports underdog" genre of films, but its heart and impressive cast make it rousing and enjoyable despite its lack of originality.

Dean Youngblood (Rob Lowe) has always dreamt about joining the professional hockey league, a desire that ran in the family since his older brother Kelly (Jim Youngs) also took a shot at that pursuit before losing an eye and being forced to return to the family farm. But Dean isn't about to let his brother's failure dissuade him, for mucking corrals and feeding chickens is not the life for him.

Opportunity arises when a Canadian minor-league team, the Hamilton Mustangs, has try-outs for a spot on the team. Eventually the choice comes down to two prospects: Dean, who is quick as lightning and technically proficient, or Racki (George Finn), who leaves finesse behind and brutalizes everyone in his path. Coach Murray Chadwick (Ed Lauter) ultimately goes with Dean, despite concerns about his lack of size or defensive abilities.

Not everyone on the team is so quick to embrace the newcomer, who has earned the nickname of "lightweight" due to his slight stature. But with time Dean wins over the team due to his skilled game play, and actually develops a close friendship with team leader Derek Sutton (Patrick Swayze).

But his former nemesis Racki comes back to haunt him when during the finals against the Thunderbay Bombers he discovers that Racki was picked up by that team instead. Surrounded by a hostile crowd and officials all too willing to turn a blind eye towards Racki's perpetual fouls and illegal maneuvers, the first of three matches ends up resembling more of a barroom brawl than an actual hockey game. Sutton is also viciously fouled from behind by Racki and nearly killed.

Now with his former friend in the hospital, Dean begins to question whether he really wants to play hockey after all. Faced with a nemesis he fears and sadness about his friend's incapacitated state, Dean must decide whether to continue pursuing his dream or leave it behind for life on the farm.

Youngblood brings nothing new to the table whatsoever in terms of storyline, but then again "underdog" sports films rarely do. They appeal to us due to their ability to inspire the inner spirit that resides within us all, and for the most part Youngblood succeeds in tapping into this element, even if it does get a bit cheesy towards the end.

All the actors did a fine job throughout the film, though special nods go to Patrick Swayze and Ed Lauter. Swayze put forth a measured performance as a confident team leader that actually has a heart of gold behind his tough and arrogant exterior, and Lauter absolutely nailed his role as a stern hockey coach.

But what about the main star, you ask? At first I doubted Rob Lowe's ability to convincingly play the role of Dean Youngblood, because even though the character was meant to be slighter of build and a "pretty boy" I felt that Lowe was just too much so. I really enjoy most of his work as I think he's an extremely charismatic actor, but I couldn't see him as a hockey player.

Well, as Youngblood went on I developed a new respect for him since he managed to pull it off… sorta. Lowe didn't drag the movie down and definitely rose to the challenge, but as good as he did he still didn't look like a true hockey player even at the film's conclusion. So overall I felt he might have been miscast for the part, but he did an impressive enough job that few viewers will mind.

In the end, Youngblood really isn't anything special or rare – we've seen it all before, we've seen it countless times since, and we'll see it countless times in the future, no doubt. But that having been said, most of us enjoy a dramatic underdog story from time to time, so when you're in the mood for such a film give Youngblood a shot.

Movie rating: 7 stars

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