Reviews & Ratings for
One Special Victory (TV) More at IMDbPro »

4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
I've been there, 20 September 2005

Author: nana1026 from United States

I work at a facility for mentally challenged adults and believe it or not, I did enjoy this movie...I can associate every one of the members of his team to people in our facility...I can put myself in Mr. Larquette's place...when I first started this job eight years ago. It is the kind of job that you get more than just a paycheck...I'd like to know where I could get a copy of this movie...our residents would like to see it as well as my co-workers. I especially liked Ruthie....I had a copy of this that I had taped years ago from television...but had loaned it out and not gotten it back. Our local county has a large group for SPECIAL OLYMPICS....our School of Bright Promise had a basketball team with cheerleaders from our facility.

I found this movie heartwarming, 1 May 2010

Author: copitamie from United States

I just watched this movie for the first time in 2010, even though it's been out almost 20 years, and I really enjoyed it.

The writing and acting are strong, with well developed characters.

This movie chooses to see the goodness of mankind,a rarity these days for sure. I loved the fact that I didn't have to fast forward through any of it, quite the opposite, I found myself rewinding on a few occasions. It's not often that you watch a movie and feel more enlightened for having seen it, but that's how this film struck me.

We need more films that make you feel good, to remember the goodness of people, and maybe even remember the goodness in your own soul.

One Special Movie (if not Cliché), 25 January 2009

Author: FredGailey from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

'One Special Victory '(1991) w/ John Larroquette from 'Night Court' is a NBC made for TV movie, and although TV movies were for the most part heavy handed tear jerker melodramas this is a rare instance where the subject is light and humorous. This was originally aired during the 1991 holiday season, alongside a few other well produced Xmas themed TV movies that are worth watching: namely 'Yes, Virginia There Is A Santa Claus' that starred Charles Bronson and 'Christmas On Division Street' starring Fred Savage. 'One Special Victory' is one of those movies that takes place at Xmas but the story is not directly related to the season itself. In other words - a few well placed Xmas trees in the background were enough for the network to warrant it a yuletide movie and promote it as such but I don't think Xmas is even mentioned - like I said you wouldn't know it was even a holiday movie if it weren't for the strategically placed Xmas decorations that are visible. Oddly enough, in the TV Guide ads promoting it John Larroquette is wearing a Santa hat giving the impression that the movie revolves around an Xmas plot. Its never been released on VHS/DVD as most made for TV movies aren't but it occasionally pops up on Lifetime/Lifetime Movie Network. It is a good little movie nonetheless, although it suffers from 2 overused clichéd themes, the first being basically a different sort of spin on a Christmas Carol type story and the other is the whole "teacher radically impacts students' lives and vise versa" theme being that the storyline is as follows: Larroquette plays the self absorbed jerk (much like his character Dan on Night Court sans the sex obsession) but by coaching a mentally challenged adult basketball team, as a result of a community service sentence, he sees the error of his ways. A little cliché? Yes, but the handicap adults gives it a different, if not fresh, angle and though as I said the whole Scroogeesque theme has been exhausted on the big and silver screen, this movie is better than most holiday fare being produced today. Larroquette is great in his role as are the rest of the supporting cast who are very convincing in their parts, however, my only complaint is with Kathy Baker - she is also terrific in her role but in the end she doesn't really convey to the the audience that shes fallen in love with Larroquette and ***SPOILER***** their kiss at the end seems very forced although they lack chemistry throughout - which really doesn't matter as their "relationship" or lack thereof is a secondary subplot. Otherwise, its a great little movie that is the equivalent of comfort food. Not too heavy to digest, but not too sappy either, just very enjoyable and from an era where TV movies reigned but are for the most part now extinct.

0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One Special Victory A Must To See!!!, 13 December 2005

Author: jdash70 from United States

I just saw this movie last night and let me tell you, it's a must to see. I think John Larroquette did an Outstanding job. He portrayed the perfect person that was all into himself at the beginning of the movie and turned into a very caring person at the end. I don't know where the person comes off in the last comment about John Larroquette mugging the camera, I don't think he did that at all. You have to remember he was playing out a part in a movie, he didn't have control of the camera. I think he was a terrific lead actor. The one thing I do agree with is that Kathy Baker did not portray a very convincing part in falling in love with John at the end of the movie. I don't think she played a good part at all in this movie.

I am a coach of a Special Olympics Basketball team and let me tell you, it's very challenging and very rewarding at the same time. I give John Larroquette two thumbs. This movie was very moving and touching. Great movie for the family.

2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Great supporting cast, 27 May 2005
Author: peace63 from Valencia, Spain

This movie could have been very good if John Larroquette had not been the lead actor. His frequent mugging for the camera was distracting. He really seems to be in love with himself in this movie. He was well cast as a selfish wealthy salesman who does not care about anybody but himself. Sadly, as the movie winds along his conversion into a caring and more sensitive person is not very convincing. Fortunately, the supporting cast is excellent. As part of his probation, Larroquette is sentenced to coach a team of mentally retarded kids for the Special Olympics. The kids are made up of Joe Pantoliano, Dirk Blocker, Christine Estabrook and a couple of others. Estabrook does a tremendous and very convincing portrayal of Ruthie, a retarded girl who is the soul of the team. Kathy Baker plays the Youth Center's Sports Director who gradually (and not very convincingly) falls in love with Larroquette. Phil Hartman and Angela Bassett round out the cast.

The late Ray Walston is the crusty old manager of the Youth Center where the team works out. The late Beah Richards plays the tough cleaning lady at the Youth Center. Walston and Richards make a good team. It is sad that those kind of homespun folks are no longer around. Richards frequently gives Larroquette some well-deserved tongue-lashings, but while she gives a sincere performance, Larroquette seems to be day-dreaming about Night Court. Even though this was a TV movie, I did not expect Larroquette to mail in his performance like he did. Thanks to the rest of the cast, One Special Victory is a pretty good TV movie.

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