The Mighty Ducks
Director: Stephen Herek
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Eldon Henson , Shaun Weiss, Matt Doherty, Marguerite Moreau Matt Doherty, Jos Ackland
Gordon Bombay is haunted by memories of his childhood, when, as the star player in his champion hockey team, he lost the winning goal in a shootout, thereby losing the game. After being charged for drunk driving, the court orders him to coach a children’s hockey team, who happen to be the worst in their league. Gordon is at first very reluctant, however, he eventually gains the respect of the kids and teaches them how to win, gaining a sponsor on the way and rechristening the team’s name “The Ducks”. In the finals, Gordon and his Ducks face his old team, the Hawks, giving Gordon a chance to face old ghosts.
The heart of the story rests in the wise words of Gordon’s father… “A team is something you belong to…something you feel…something you have to earn.” This expression is what defines Gordon’s character and how he and his team learn to heal their broken wings and fly.
In the beginning, Gordon is playing for the Hawks, and there is a moment where Gordon must score the final goal to win the championship for his hockey team. When Gordon misses this goal, that memory haunts him, and he is left with broken wings because he feels that by losing the game and disappointing his coach and his team with his loss, he also disappointed his father. He abandons his hockey dream and grows up into a bitter lawyer who hates hockey.
When Gordon visits Hans (played by Jos Ackland) after his team’s humiliating defeat during their first game, Hans reminds Gordon of his father’s wise words…that for him, Gordon playing hockey was never about winning, but about having fun and learning to fly. When Gordon is flying across the ice once again, his memory returns to his childhood on the ice and how his father was so proud of him, not because he was winning, but because Gordon was his son. This memory inspires Gordon to rechristen his team “the Ducks” and he begins to sincerely put his heart into coaching his team.
The moment that has haunted Gordon since childhood is reflected once more in the Duck’s last game…only this time, Gordon remembers his father’s wise words. When he chooses Charlie to take the final goal, Charlie is initially afraid that history will repeat itself and he will lose…but when he sees his Coach believing in him and his team cheering for him, this gives Charlie the courage he needs to fly.
While it has been nearly 20 years since the Ducks first flew into my heart, time has not diminished this movie’s charm in the least. It is still a heartwarming story. The casting is stellar, particularly for Emilio Estevez as Gordon Bombay. This is definitely a film I would highly recommend.
©2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved
Director: Stephen Herek
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Eldon Henson , Shaun Weiss, Matt Doherty, Marguerite Moreau Matt Doherty, Jos Ackland
Gordon Bombay is haunted by memories of his childhood, when, as the star player in his champion hockey team, he lost the winning goal in a shootout, thereby losing the game. After being charged for drunk driving, the court orders him to coach a children’s hockey team, who happen to be the worst in their league. Gordon is at first very reluctant, however, he eventually gains the respect of the kids and teaches them how to win, gaining a sponsor on the way and rechristening the team’s name “The Ducks”. In the finals, Gordon and his Ducks face his old team, the Hawks, giving Gordon a chance to face old ghosts.
The heart of the story rests in the wise words of Gordon’s father… “A team is something you belong to…something you feel…something you have to earn.” This expression is what defines Gordon’s character and how he and his team learn to heal their broken wings and fly.
In the beginning, Gordon is playing for the Hawks, and there is a moment where Gordon must score the final goal to win the championship for his hockey team. When Gordon misses this goal, that memory haunts him, and he is left with broken wings because he feels that by losing the game and disappointing his coach and his team with his loss, he also disappointed his father. He abandons his hockey dream and grows up into a bitter lawyer who hates hockey.
When Gordon visits Hans (played by Jos Ackland) after his team’s humiliating defeat during their first game, Hans reminds Gordon of his father’s wise words…that for him, Gordon playing hockey was never about winning, but about having fun and learning to fly. When Gordon is flying across the ice once again, his memory returns to his childhood on the ice and how his father was so proud of him, not because he was winning, but because Gordon was his son. This memory inspires Gordon to rechristen his team “the Ducks” and he begins to sincerely put his heart into coaching his team.
The moment that has haunted Gordon since childhood is reflected once more in the Duck’s last game…only this time, Gordon remembers his father’s wise words. When he chooses Charlie to take the final goal, Charlie is initially afraid that history will repeat itself and he will lose…but when he sees his Coach believing in him and his team cheering for him, this gives Charlie the courage he needs to fly.
While it has been nearly 20 years since the Ducks first flew into my heart, time has not diminished this movie’s charm in the least. It is still a heartwarming story. The casting is stellar, particularly for Emilio Estevez as Gordon Bombay. This is definitely a film I would highly recommend.
©2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved