The Replacements (2000)

During a pro football strike, the owners hire substitute players.

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writer:

Vince McKewin

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Shane Falco
Gene Hackman	...	Jimmy McGinty
Brooke Langton	...	Annabelle Farrell
Orlando Jones	...	Clifford Franklin
Faizon Love	...	Jamal Jackson
Michael Taliferro	...	Andre Jackson (as Michael 'Bear' Taliferro)
Ace Yonamine	...	Jumbo
Troy Winbush	...	Walter Cochran
David Denman	...	Brian Murphy
Jon Favreau	...	Daniel Bateman
Michael Jace	...	Earl Wilkinson / Ray Smith
Rhys Ifans	...	Nigel 'The Leg' Gruff
Gailard Sartain	...	Pilachowski
Art LaFleur	...	Banes
Brett Cullen	...	Eddie Martel

Storyline

A comedy based on the 1987 professional football players' strike. Gene Hackman plays the coach of the team, Jack Warden is the owner, Brett Cullen is the All-Pro quarterback that goes on strike and Keanu Reeves is the "scab" who replaces the star QB.

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Plot Keywords:

strike | coach | football | sumo | quarterback | 

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Taglines:

Throw the ball. Catch the girl. Keep it simple.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some crude sexual humor and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

11 August 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Helden aus der zweiten Reihe

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$11,039,214 (USA) (11 August 2000)

Gross:

ESP 213,762,229 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bel Air Entertainment, Dylan Sellers Productions, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Keanu Reeves plays a former quarterback from Ohio State. In Point Break, Reeves's character was also a former quarterback from Ohio State.

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Goofs

When Gruff kicks the field goal in the game against Detroit, the chinstrap is (un)buttoned.

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Quotes

Shane Falco: [Shane parks his truck at the stadium and sees several of the former Sentinels approaching his truck] You gotta be kidding me. Come on Martel, I didn't park in your space.
Eddie Martel: No, no. But unfortunately, you did park in La Mont's space. And he's not nearly as lenient as I am.
Malcolm La Mont: On three fellas. One, two, three!
[the former Sentinels tip over Shane's truck. Shane begins to walk away until Jamal and Andre step up]
Andre Jackson: We got this, we got this.
Jamal Jackson: Y'all wanna put the car back?
Eddie Martel: Gentlemen, this is none of your ...
[...]

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Connections

Spoofs The Last Boy Scout (1991)

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Soundtracks

"I Don't Want To Be Your Girlfriend"
Written by Kelli Owens
Performed by Kelli Owens

User Reviews

"There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you very dangerous people."

Those are the words of coach (Hackman) before the final regular season game for the "replacement" players, filling in for the striking regulars. The "never-been" QB (Keanu Reeves) must try to lead them to victory.

"The Replacements" is primarily a good screwball comedy, in the vein of, but significantly better than, "Best of Show" and "The Waterboy." Some may even take a "message" away, about the importance of teamwork, belief in oneself, true love (QB and the head cheerleader). But that is all secondary.

I rate this one highly for pure escapism entertainment, but also with good acting by Reeves and Hackman, and some almost-believable football action, heavily interlaced with goofiness. The lap-dancers turned cheerleaders, who totally distract the opposing team. The tag-team vomiting during the huddle, after the Japanese sumo wrestler eats too many eggs before the game ("I gotta beef up!") The cop who, like in the "Waterboy", can get enraged (Coach says, "I want you to get me the ball," and he does.) The Welsh kicker who is "wirr-rrry strong" and smokes a cigarette while kicking. The "I will survive" dance in jail, after the barroom brawl with the 'regulars.'

To make a good screwball comedy, the writer and director have to walk a fine line and here they do it well. John Madden and Pat Summerall, playing announcers, are genuinely funny. The DVD picture, and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, are up to standards.