The Best of Times (1986) 5.7
A small-town loser determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game. Director:Roger SpottiswoodeWriter:Ron Shelton |
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The Best of Times (1986) 5.7
A small-town loser determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game. Director:Roger SpottiswoodeWriter:Ron Shelton |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robin Williams | ... | ||
| Kurt Russell | ... | ||
| Pamela Reed | ... | ||
| Holly Palance | ... |
Elly Dundee
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| Donald Moffat | ... |
The Colonel
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| Margaret Whitton | ... |
Darla
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| M. Emmet Walsh | ... |
Charlie
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| Donovan Scott | ... |
Eddie
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| R.G. Armstrong | ... |
Schutte
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| Dub Taylor | ... |
Mac
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| Carl Ballantine | ... |
Arturo
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| Kathleen Freeman | ... |
Rosie
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| Tony Plana | ... |
Chico
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| Kirk Cameron | ... |
Teddy
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| Robyn Lively | ... |
Jaki
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Jack Dundee is a meek banker living in Taft, California. He constantly thinks about the 1972 high school football game between Taft and powerhouse Bakersfield. Dundee fumbled a perfect pass from quarterback and friend Reno Hightower, and the game ended in a tie. He wants to replay the game, but has trouble convincing Reno and the town to replay the game. So Jack resorts to desperate measures to make the game reality. Written by Pat McCurry
If you can ever wrap your mind around the concept of Robin Williams as a high school jock I think you might enjoy The Best Of Times. What this is not is a film using the hit song from La Cage Aux Folles as a theme.
Instead Robin Williams plays a guy with a reputation of blowing a long pass from quarterback Kurt Russell in a final game with Bakersfield that blew the state championship for the best high school team that Taft, California ever produced. In fact the opening narrative makes it quite clear that Taft, California is one loser of a town throughout its history. Still living in a small town and married to Holly Palance, daughter of Donald Moffat who was a booster of the Bakersfield team has made life pretty miserable.
No more miserable than it was for Kurt Russell who blew out a knee when the entire Bakersfield line nailed him just as he got off the pass that Williams dropped thereby losing a possible pro career.
So Williams who's had 15 years of taunts decides to challenge his father-in-law to replay the game and maybe history won't repeat itself. It's going to take a lot though to motivate the rest of the team, especially Russell, but Williams has a bag of tricks.
I guess there's nothing sillier then old men trying to act young again. As Bill Holden said to Gloria Swanson, there's nothing wrong with being 50 unless you try to act like you're 25. That forms the basis for most of the comedy in The Best Of Times.
Both Williams and Russell have done better work, but this one will provide a few laughs. Still Williams as a jock does not compute.