This has low key always been one of my favorite movies, it's the perfect mindless sports flic with a good mix of inspo and comedy. Reeves is the perfect antihero to lead this team of oddballs. Keep expeditions low and just enjoy it for what it is.

The Washington professional football team which is NOT named the Redskins for this film seems on the verge of a championship, but then the players in the NFL pull out and go on strike about two thirds of the season through. Naturally this does not sit well with the football public or the general sports public for that matter. No one can figure out why these well paid athletes want eight million as opposed to seven million.

Owner Jack Warden who seems to be modeled on the legendary Redskins owner George Preston Marshall like his peers hires The Replacements to finish out the season. It's an interesting collection of has beens, and never wases that coach Gene Hackman has to work with. It calls for a different kind of coaching than one would normally expect, but somehow I think Vince Lombardi would approve of Hackman's methods.

Chief recruit is Keanu Reeves a one time golden quarterback prospect who screwed up his own prospects, I'll not reveal how. But Reeves sees this as a shot to show what he could have done. As the most professional of this group Reeves is essential and he lets neither the team or the audience down. He also has head cheerleader Brooke Langton in his corner giving his morale a needed boost.

This replacement Washington team develops a style of gonzo football like the Charleston Chiefs gonzo hockey in Slap Shot. It's what makes The Replacements the fine entertainment it is.

I do have to say that I remember when baseball had a lock out and tried to negotiate with their players under a threat and did hire replacements in spring training. I still have memories of watching those spring training games with that set of replacements for the Mets in this case. I'll not forget Ralph Kiner and the rest of the Mets announcers just sounding in agony describing the game.

Those replacement Mets just never got into the spirit of The Replacements.

Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) is a former star college quarterback who washed out in the pros. Eddie Martel (Brett Cullen) is the star quarterback of Washington Sentinels who is more concerned about himself than the team. Then the players go on strike and Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is hired to shape up a new team of replacement players. They need three more wins out of their final four games to get into the playoffs. It's a mishmash of wacky personalities. Shane falls for the head cheerleader Annabelle Farrell (Brooke Langton) who has to come up with a new group of cheerleaders. Rhys Ifans is the wiry kicker. Jon Favreau is the angry defensive player who loves to hit. Orlando Jones is the jokey player.

It's a pretty light weight football movie with a bit of rom-com. Gene Hackman is slumming it a little to give this some substance. It has a few good jokes. The stripper cheerleaders are cute. The players have just enough wackiness. Keanu Reeves is still that likable lead. It's formulaic and somewhat watchable. At least, director Howard Deutch has the skills to use the formula even with a song and dance in jail.