Flicks with Game (Sports Movies of 2008)

As 2008 comes to end, it's always fun to look back over the year's movies. Since I am a sports journalists, I thought it might be fun to compile a list of the past years sports related movies. As of November 3, 2008, there have been forty-five films released in 2008, and combined have grossed more than $100 million. Although there were some decent sports related movies in 2008. None made it in to the top 10 for highest grossing movies of 2008. It's not really that surprising when you look down the list. Although in my opinion, none of these movies will ever make the AFI's top list of sports themed movies, there are a couple that are worth that DVD or Blu-Ray rental.

Semi Pro- Comedy-Starring: Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson- New Line Cinema

Released in theaters on February 29, 2008, and DVD on June 3rd, 2008

As a huge Will Ferrell fan, I have to say that I was a little disappointed in this movie. The film received negative to mixed reviews from critics as well. It went on to gross $33,479,698 domestically and $10,404,532 internationally, for a total of only $43,884,230 worldwide. The film is set in 1976, Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) is a singer who has used the profits from his one hit single "Love Me Sexy", to buy a basketball team in the American Basketball Association, the Flint Tropics. Moon is the owner, head coach, and starting power forward. After discovering that Moon's Tropics have somewhat of a shot to be an NBA franchise, Jackie trades away the team's washing machine to the Kentucky Colonels for Ed Monix, (Harrelson) former backup point guard for the NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Soon, the commissioner reveals that as well as having a top four record, the Tropics will also have to have a stable fan base and have an attendance of at least 2,000 fans every remaining game of the season. Jackie begins to promote the Tropics wildly with gimmicks.

Leatherheads-Drama-Starring: George Clooney and Renée Zellweger- Universal Pictures

Released in theaters on April 4, 2008, and DVD on September 23, 2008.

Personally my favorite sports movie of 2008. The film received mixed review mostly positive. The main audience for the film were viewers in their 50s to 80s. The movie has made about $29.7 million from the domestic box office and $6 million from the foreign box office making a total of $35.8 million to date. Set in the 1920s, Clooney plays Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly, a character based on the life of Johnny "Blood" McNally who played for multiple NFL teams from 1925 to 1938. As captain of a struggling professional American football team, the Duluth Bulldogs. Dodge (Clooney) is determined to save both his team and pro football. He persuades a college football star, Carter "the Bullet" Rutherford, to join the Bulldogs, hoping to capitalize on Carter's fame as a war hero. Chicago newspaper reporter, Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) provides a romantic interest, as she becomes the object of the affections of both Dodge and Carter. Lexie has been assigned to find proof that Carter's war heroics are bogus. Eventually Carter confesses that the surrender of the Germans was a lucky accident and in no way heroic. Dodge's attempts to legitimize pro football start to backfire. With his playing career nearing the end, Dodge and Carter, now playing for Chicago, face off, ending the movie with the "big game".

The Longshots-Family/Comedy-Starring: Ice Cube and Keke Palmer-Dimensions Films

Released in theaters on August 22, 2008, and DVD on December 2, 2008

Personally I thought this movie was decent and more geared for the younger moviegoer. The movie landed in 10th place on it's opening weekend, making an amazing 4.08 million. The film is considered to be one of the lowest grossing films of the summer, making it a huge flop. The movie is based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer (Palmer) who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history. Curtis Plummer (Ice Cube) a washed up former high school football star. Turns his niece, Jasmine, into the quarterback of the local team, the Minden Browns. He gets his stride back when he becomes the team coach. With Curtis as their new leader and their pigtail-wearing star player, this team of misfits wins its way to the Pop Warner Super Bowl and the small city of Minden, Illinois, is ignited with team spirit, town pride and the glory.

Goal! 2: Living the Dream-Drama-Starring: Kuno Becker-Walt Disney Pictures

Released on DVD on August 29, 2008

The story picks up where Goal left off and follows the fictional footballer Santiago (Becker) Munez's life, who after gaining experience with the football club Newcastle United, gets a huge break when he's transferred to Real Madrid. That's pretty much the movie. I really think that you may be better off spending your time watching "Bend it like Beckham". Not the best from Disney by far.

The Wrestler-Drama-Starring: Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei-Fox Searchlight

Released in a limited capacity on December 17, 2008, and will be released nationwide on January 16, 2009

If you're into the WWE and Monday Night Raw, this movie might be for you. The story for this movie is about Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Rourke), a professional wrestler from the 1980s who twenty years past his prime is relocated to wrestling weekends in independent and semi-pro matches for extra cash. He is forced to retire after a heart attack threatens to kill him the next time he wrestles. He takes a weekend shift at the deli counter at the grocery store where he already works on weekdays, attempts to form a relationship with an aging stripper (Tomei) and does his best to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). However, he is drawn to the prospect of a rematch with his old wrestling nemesis the Ayatollah (Ernest Miller), even though the fight may cost him his life. The movies finale is the big match. Also appearing in the film are actual professional wrestlers including, The Blue Meanie, Necro Butcher, Nick Berk, DJ Hyde, Whacks, Perry Saturn, Kid USA, Ron Killings, Romeo Roselli and John Zandig.

It probably wasn't the best year for sports films. None of this years films come close or dare to compare to the first Rocky, Brian's Song, Caddyshack, or Field of Dreams. Or my personal favorites, the Sandlot, and the Natural and Raging Bull. However, there are a few good laughs and a few of those feel good moments that all sports themed movies often bring. Let's hope that 2009 brings with it a few great sports themed movies that top this years films.