When college coach Herb Brooks is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe: the heavily-favored Soviet team.
The movie effectively simulates the game's whirl, and should grab all but the most finicky hockey fans. But for moviegoers who think if you've seen one sports flick, you've seen 'em all -- well, you've definitely seen this one.
– Mark Jenkins,
Washington Post,
6 Feb 2004
rotten:
Big on slogans, but low on personality.
– Stephanie Zacharek,
Salon.com,
7 Feb 2004
fresh:
Russell is terrific as coach Herb Brooks.
– Ed Park,
Village Voice,
10 Feb 2004
fresh:
[T]humbs up for this uplifting and inspirational movie about one of the great upsets in sports history.
– Richard Roeper,
Ebert & Roeper,
13 Feb 2004
fresh:
If you can tolerate all this phony uplift you'll also get a pretty interesting story about a shrewd Minnesota college coach named Herb Brooks.