Score: A Hockey Musical

Score: A Hockey Musical

I can’t believe this was the opening film for TIFF. It is not up to the standards of the Film Festival.

It is definitely Canadiana. What could be more Canadian than a hockey game played in Canada especially one set to music? I did love seeing all the scenes set in Toronto.

The film opens with the singing of Oh Canada and we see shots of young kids playing hockey in a variety of places; the street, stadiums, outdoor rinks and backyards. This was my favorite scene in the film. The children in the audience seemed to love it. I was entertained but that doesn’t make this a good film.

Farley, a 17 year old youth, has been home schooled. His parents are pacifists. Farley loves to skate on the outdoor rink and plays hockey in a pick up type of atmosphere. He is discovered as a hockey player with a lot of potential and is sent to Brampton to play with the team. I loved the line when he states, to his parents,” I’m going to Brampton not to Bosnia.” He has never played any team sports before. The players were all so different from anything he had encountered. In his first game he scored 4 goals and 2 assists. Violence is everywhere. Farley refuses to fight and just takes the taunts and the punches. He is an amazing hockey player and the team needs him. An agent gets him contracts for high paying commercials.

The media play up the fact that he won’t fight and that is just not the way to play hockey. His team ostracizes him. His parents are disgusted with the roughness of the game and want him to quit. Farley states the he thought he had it all but then everything was in doubt.

While all the hockey nonsense takes place we see the platonic relationship between Farley and his next door neighbor, Eve. She really is adorable. They have been best friends forever. She is an aspiring cello player. She really is in love with Farley but dares not tell him for fear of breaking up a good sibling like relationship.

It is a bit like a Bollywood film in that songs break out at all times. But then this is a musical. It seems strange to see hockey players singing and dancing on the ice.

The central issue is whether violence is necessary to hockey. At one point Farley leaves the team because he has been so badgered by the players and the coach. His parents also didn’t want him to play.

Girlfriend Eve helps him to see the light. He really does want to play hockey and goes about convincing the team and the coach that violence is not necessary. Team action is the way to win.

I do have to admit that it must have been difficult to find a young man who can sing, act and skate. Young Noah Reid has the challenge of playing Farley and he is a talented young man. Olivia Newton –John plays the role of the mother. She probably is the best singer of all the cast. The father is played by Marc Jordan. He is not a singer and is very weak, in my opinion. Walter Gretsky does have a walk on role and he is delightful.

Maybe I have just seen too many really good films lately and this pals in comparison.