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
Michael Taliferro	...	Andre (as Michael 'Bear' Taliferro)
Ace Yonamine	...	Fumiko
Troy Winbush	...	Walter Cochran
David Denman	...	Brian Murphy
Jon Favreau	...	Bateman
Michael Jace	...	Wilkinson
Rhys Ifans	...	Nigel 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 player | misfits | sumo wrestler | 

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Taglines:

Pain heals, Chicks dig scars... Glory lasts forever

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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. 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 USA:

$11,039,214, 13 August 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$44,737,059, 19 November 2000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,317,452

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

The lunch scene during the practice was filmed in the Press Lounge at PSINet Stadium.

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Goofs

When Falco's truck is being turned on its side for the second time by the striking players, the mirrors on his truck go from broken to fixed to broken again.

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Quotes

John Madden: I think that guy's smoking on the field.
Pat Summerall: Smoking? I'm sure you're just imagining that, John.
John Madden: No, no, I saw it. I saw the smoke and everything.

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Connections

Featured in HBO First Look: The Making of 'The Replacements' (2000)

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Soundtracks

Can U Feel It
Written by Arnie Roman and Steve Skinner
Performed by 3rd Party
Courtesy of DV8 Records/W&R Group

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.