It Could Happen.

Starring: Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tony Danza, Brenda Fricker, Ben Johnson, Christopher Lloyd, Jay O. Sanders, Neal McDonough, Matthew McConaughey, Taylor Negron, Adrien Brody

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Seems like you're saying it's okay to believe in God, but it's not okay to believe in angels. Now I thought they were on the same team." - Maggie

Why watch this? A heart-warming baseball film, with a dash of the miraculous.

Plot Summary: A young foster boy named Roger loves the California Angels baseball team, even though they're the worst team in the league. When his absentee father jokingly says they'll be a family again when the Angels win the pennant, Roger prays for divine intervention to help the team. To his surprise, real angels start to assist the players, leading to a miraculous winning streak that captures the attention of the team's skeptical manager, George Knox.

Dad's Preview: I gave this film a try because of Danny Glover. What I didn't expect was the great performance by one-time TV Star Tony Danza. This sweet movie caught me off guard. My kids loved it - and so did I. It is the purest kind of fun. Look for future stars Neal McDonough, Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey, all playing small supporting roles.

Walt Disney Pictures, Caravan Pictures; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

The story of a man who could only count to #1

Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Jane Lynch, Amy Adams, Andy Richter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"And here you sit--thinking! Well, Ricky Bobby is not a thinker. Ricky Bobby is a driver... You need to grab a hold of that line between speed and chaos, and you need to wrestle it to the ground like a demon cobra. - Susan, as she crawls across the bar table

Why watch this? The NASCAR world is an oddly funny concept to begin with. This makes if even funnier.

Plot Summary: A talented but arrogant NASCAR driver, Ricky Bobby, and his best friend, Cal Naughton Jr., dominate the circuit with a pact to always finish first and second. However, their winning streak is threatened by the arrival of a flamboyant French Formula One driver named Jean Girard, who challenges Ricky and causes him to lose confidence.

Dad's Preview: Will Ferrell is one of the funniest humans ever. I'd put him up against Jerry Lewis, Don Knotts, Robin Williams, Steve Martin. Heck, he'd even challenge Jim Carrey! This flick is one funny moment after another, non-stop! This tank is full to the rim with colorful characters and asinine, but well-written, dialogue. I also have to note that John C. Reilly has made a career out of playing great supporting comedy roles. He's the dumb-butt we all know and love!

Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, The Apatow Co., Mosaic Media Gp;
Sony Picture Releasing

Golf Pro. Love Amateur.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, Rex Linn, Linda Hart, Dennis Burkley, Lou Myers, Richard Lineback

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Sex and golf are the two things you can enjoy even if you're not good at them." - Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy

Why watch this? I love a great comeback story. And any chance to see Cheech Marin on screen.

Plot Summary: Roy McAvoy is a washed-up golf prodigy managing a driving range in West Texas. He falls for his new golf student, Dr. Molly Griswold, who happens to be the girlfriend of his arrogant former college rival and PGA star, David Simms. Motivated by his feelings and a rivalry with Simms, Roy sets out to qualify for the U.S. Open and win Molly's heart. Let's hope his caddy, Romeo, can keep him under control.

Dad's Preview: This is my favorite film about golf. The quirky Costner portrays Roy McAvoy, a stubborn, golf has-been, working at a dusty Texas driving range. Sure, he has his local fans, but he ain't goin' nowhere fast. When Molly, an attractive psychologist, stops in for a lesson, he falls for her. To up the ante, she's dating Roy's old rival, David, still on the Pro Tour. This gives Roy the kick in the butt he needs to try again. Romeo, his one-time caddy, reluctantly agrees to help, knowing how damn temperamental Roy can be. The rest, as they say, is golf film history.

Regency Enterprises; Warner Bros.

In the tradition of Shane and High Noon, a new Western Classic is born! BITE THE BULLET

Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Ben Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When I cross the finish line, I get to be a big man. Top man. A man to remember." – Mister (the old cowboy)

Why watch this? ... it's an outstanding Western cross-country race.

Plot Summary: This oater centers around a grueling 700-mile endurance horse race held at the turn of the century. A diverse group of participants with varying motivations and personalities enters the race, including two former Rough Riders, a woman of questionable virtue, a gunfighter, and an aging cowboy. As the competition pushes them to their limits, their true characters are revealed.

Dad's Preview: There were tons of Westerns made in the 1970's. Leone was making "Spaghetti Westerns". John Wayne was was still going strong. Some were masterpieces, some were cow dung. This little-known gem surprised me. It's a grand adventure, a cross-country race on horseback, plagued by natural hazards and man-made obstacles. This is one exciting film. We are blessed to have two great stars, Hackman and Coburn, both "men of action" who seek the $2,000 prize.

Persky-Bright Productions, Vista; Columbia Pictures

Sometimes a winner is a dreamer who just won't quit.

Starring: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Greta Lind, Scott Benjaminson, Mary Ann Thomas, Charles S. Dutton, Lili Taylor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I wish God would put your heart in some of my players bodies." - Coach Ara Pareseghian to the undersized Rudy

Why watch this? This is a very good film about an underdog - a determined welp who just won't quit.

Plot Summary: Daniel Ruettiger, a young man from a steel mill town, has a lifelong dream of playing football for the University of Notre Dame. Despite lacking the physical size and academic record typically associated with Notre Dame athletes, Rudy is fiercely determined to overcome these obstacles. He embarks on a relentless journey, confronting numerous setbacks and naysayers, fueled by his unwavering passion and belief in himself.

Dad's Preview: Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger has a dream to play football for Notre Dame. Against all odds, he "walks on" to the team and makes the practice squad. His dream appears crushed. If you want to find inspiration, look no further - Rudy is your man.

Robert N. Fried, Cary Woods; TriStar Pictures

The Crowd Worshipped Him... One Woman Understood Him!

Starring: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan, Dan Duryea, Els Janssen, Ludwig Stössel, Virginia Gilmore

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth... play ball!" - Lou Gehrig

Why watch this? This is a homage to the beloved baseballer Lou Gehrig, who died at age 37.

Plot Summary: This film traces the life of baseball legend Lou Gehrig, from his early days aspiring to play ball to becoming a star with the New York Yankees. He forms friendships with teammates and journalists and finds love with his spirited wife, Eleanor. As his career peaks and he's celebrated as a national hero, Gehrig begins experiencing a mysterious loss of strength. Despite his declining health, Gehrig bravely continues to play, driven by his love for the game and his dedication to his team.

Dad's Preview: This sad yet inspiring film documents one of America's greatest sports legends. Gehrig played for the New York Yankees, but suffered from the incurable ALS (it would later be called Lou Gehrig's Disease). He left this world too soon. Many real baseball players appear in the film including Babe Ruth and Bill Dickey. The highlight of the film is Gehrig's final speech to his adoring fans. The film was nominated for ten Oscars, winning only one.

Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio Pictures

At last, a picture of kids as they really are.

Starring: Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, Ben Piazza, Jackie Earle Haley, Alfred Lutter III, Chris Barnes, Erin Blunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Listen, Lupus, you didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya? Now get your ass out there and do the best you can." - Coach Morris Buttermaker

Why watch this? It's an irreverent and wonderful coming-of-age film about youth baseball.

Plot Summary: The Bears are embarrassments on the Little League baseball diamond. The parents hire a wore-out, beer-guzzling former minor leaguer, Morris Buttermaker, to whip the team into shape. After one practice, he decides to bring in a troublesome punk, and the daughter of one of his old girlfriends, who happens to be a good pitcher. Can the lowly Bears make the playoffs? Perhaps they can even avenge their painful loss to the well-financed Yankees.

Dad's Preview: I remember watching this when I was their age. My jaw was agape as these young actors cursed like sailors. But it was funny as heck. Matthau is perfect as the dry, jaded Buttermaker, however it's the sassy Tatum O'Neal who steals all the bases in this coming-of-age gem.

Stanley R. Jaffe; Paramount Pictures

They took the American dream for a ride.

Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Tracy Letts, Remo Girone

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There's a point at 7,000 RPM... where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that's left is a body moving through space and time." - Carroll Shelby

Why watch this? It is a splendid movie that's, historically, quite interesting.

Plot Summary: In the mid-1960s, a determined team of American engineers and designers led by automotive designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles are tasked by Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca to build a revolutionary race car for Ford. Their goal is to challenge and defeat the perennially dominant Italian racing team, Scuderia Ferrari, at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France in 1966.

Dad's Preview: This illustrates a tenet that many of us have known for years: To be successful, you can't cheat. You have to find the expert, give that person the funding and turn 'em loose. It plays out here as two car companies compete in the race for speed. Damon is solid, and Christian Bale continues to impress - he's one of the great male actors of his generation.

Chernin Ent., TSG Ent., Turpike Films; 20th Century Fox

No uniforms. No problem. No girls. No problem. No ball. BIG problem!

Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Shane Obedzinski, Denis Leary, Karen Allen, James Earl Jones

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong." - The Babe

Why watch this? ... to remember, and cherish, the days before organized youth sports.

Plot Summary: In the summer of 1962, a shy new kid in town, Scotty Smalls, struggles to make friends until he's accepted into a group of neighborhood kids who play daily at a local sandlot. The boys embark on a series of adventures throughout their summer, bonding over baseball, sleepovers, and a sexy lifeguard. Their biggest challenge arises when a prized baseball is hit over a fence into the backyard of a mysterious, legendary, and supposedly fearsome dog known as The Beast.

Dad's Preview: A great film, similar to Stand By Me (1986), about growing up in a simpler age, before electronics and a thousand TV channels. Our "gang" loves to play baseball at the local field. The problem occurs when a fly ball lands in the backyard of "The Beast". This film has a sweet innocence, and a lesson about overcoming fears and insecurities. 

Island World; 20th Century Fox

When these three oddballs try to play hardball, the result is totally screwball.

Starring: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Bob Uecker, Wesley Snipes

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Just a reminder, fans, comin' up is our "Die-hard Night" here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who
was actually alive the last time the Indians won a pennant." - Harry Doyle

Why watch this? This is the baseball comedy I thought Bull Durham was gonna be...

Plot Summary: The newly appointed owner of the Cleveland Indians attempts to intentionally lose the season by stocking the team with a roster of mismatched players. Her scheme is to orchestrate enough losses to break the team's stadium lease and relocate them to Miami. However, the players discover her plan, motivating them to overcome their individual shortcomings and start winning games, thwarting her efforts to move the team.

Dad's Preview: Riding the tide of late 80's sports films (The Natural (1984), Hoosiers (1986), Bull Durham (1988)), we were blessed to get this hilarious hardball gem. Set around baseball's Cleveland Indians, it's light-hearted fun that doesn't really blaze any new ground, but its stellar cast and hilarious moments make it a worthy entry in the annals of sports filmdom. I was really surprised by real sports announcer, Bob Uecker's off-the-wall performance as the Indian's play-by-play commentator.

Morgan Creek Productions, Mirage Productions; Paramount Pictures

In 1976, a 30-year-old bartender, who played only one year of high school football,
tried to become the NFL's most unlikely rookie.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Elizabeth Banks, Greg Kinnear, Kevin Conway, Kirk Acevedo, Dov Davidoff, Michael Kelly, Stink Fisher

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"These are the toughest fans there are. They threw snowballs at Santa Claus." - Carol Vermeil, about her husband taking the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching job

Why watch this? It's one of my favorite sports films, and I hate the Eagles.

Plot Summary: This is the true story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old substitute teacher and bartender in 1970s Philadelphia, who faces a series of personal setbacks including losing his job and a separation from his wife. A lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, Vince decides to try out for his favorite team when the newly hired coach announces open tryouts. Despite never having played college football, Vince's determination leads to him being offered a spot at training camp.

Dad's Preview: This is the story of Vince Papale, a local bartender who made the Eagles team when new coach, Dick Vermeil, held "open" tryouts in an attempt to find a spark. The rest is Philadelphia Eagles history. This may be the greatest underdog story ever. Wahlburg is superb as the regular guy who gambles on a chance. The rest of the cast is great including Greg Kinnear as Coach Dick Vermeil, and Elizabeth Banks as Janet, a sassy Giants fan who falls for Vince. My son and I met Mr. Papale at an Eagles game in 2012 - what a nice guy!

Walt Disney Pictures, Mayhem Pictures; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

A Major League Love Story in a Minor League Town

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson, Robert Wuhl, William O'Leary, David Neidorf, Jenny Robertson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days." - Crash Davis

Why watch this? It's a great sports romance; Sarandon and Costner are at their best.

Plot Summary: The Durham Bulls minor league baseball team brings in a seasoned catcher, Crash, to mentor a hotshot young pitcher. A lovely baseball groupie, Annie, takes a special interest in the players, particularly the rookie and his veteran mentor. The relationship between these three individuals unfold in two directions: helping the rookie play better, and hatching a romance between Annie and Crash.

Dad's Preview: True, this is a baseball movie, but it's really about two baseball veterans. One is a past-his-prime catcher, Crash Davis, who is tasked with mentoring a new, hot-shot pitcher, Nuke. The other is the team's "new pitcher" mistress, Annie, whose duty is to take on Nuke and make sure he is romantically satisfied. The flick's fun is watching these two veterans wise up and find their way each other. At my house: "We go for the Durham Bulls!"

Thom Mount, Mark Burg; Orion Pictures

To achieve the incredible you have to attempt the impossible.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Bitty Schram, Anne Ramsay

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Are you crying?! There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!" - Jimmy Dugan

Why watch this? The complicated sister relationship between Davis and Petty is priceless!

Plot Summary: During World War II, with many men fighting overseas, the future of Major League Baseball was uncertain. To keep professional baseball alive, a league of female players was formed, and scouts traversed the country to find talented women, including sisters Dottie and Kit, from a small farming town in Oregon. We follow their journey as they navigate the challenges of being professional athletes in the 1940s, grapple with a gruff, alcoholic manager, and struggle to keep the league and their team, the Rockford Peaches.

Dad's Preview: I crave films about historical events that most folks never heard of. This sports movie, about the 1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, has a lot of heart. That comes from Director Penny Marshall. Audiences and critics loved this adorable flick featuring female leads. Geena Davis and Lori Petty are splendid throughout. Tom Hanks, of course, is great as the team's drunken, angry and disenfranchised manager. It's a comedy that will warm your soul.

Parkway Productions; Columbia Pictures

Before they could win, they had to become one.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Nicole Ari Parker, Hayden Panettiere, Kip Pardue

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men." - Coach Boone

Why watch this? I do like a good high school football movie. This is a great one.

Plot Summary: In 1971, amidst forced school integration, a Black head coach is hired to lead a Virginia high school football team, replacing a respected white coach. This change creates significant racial tension and conflict amongst the players and the community. Despite the challenges, the coaches and team members strive to overcome their differences and unite to achieve success on the football field.

Dad's Preview: This may be a football movie, but the theme is unmistakably that racism is destructive to building a team and society as a whole. As it builds up to the final big game, the team finally comes together, sometimes by addition and sometimes by subtraction. By the end, the Titans stand together as brothers. And I can't say enough about another Denzel Washinton triumph.

Walt Disney Pictures; Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Technical Black Films;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

All his life, Ray Kinsella was searching for his dreams. Then one day, his dreams came looking for him.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster, Gaby Hoffman, Timothy Busfield

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Ray, people will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom." - Terence Mann

Why watch this? It's both so American... and so magical.

Plot Summary: Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he hears in his cornfield to build a baseball diamond. Despite skepticism and financial hardship, he pursues this vision with the support of his wife. His journey leads him to encounter figures from the past and present, all linked by their dreams and the game of baseball.

Dad's Preview: In the late '80's Costner was on fire. This classic followed Bull Durham (1988), another flick about baseball. Well, this is more about the legends of baseball. A good, ordinary man feels called to follow a crazy idea. And for once, he trusts it, even when things don't make sense. That is where the magic happens. This sentimental movie is beautifully shot and acted. Thank you, Burt Lancaster, for your lovely performance as Doc "Moonlight" Graham.

 Gordon Company; Universal Pictures

A comedy about life, hope, and getting even.

Starring: Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Pamela Reed, Donald Moffat, Holly Palance, Margaret Whitton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I was never great. I was pretty good. I was great for around here. Every year I got better. The kids always ask me about the 6 touchdown passes against Porterville. Hell, I only threw 3. I'm not going to argue. I like the idea of 6 better." – Reno Hightower

Why watch this? To see Jack square off against "Dr. Death" on the final play of the game.

Plot Summary: Two friends seek to relive a pivotal moment from their high school football career at Taft High. Jack Dundee, haunted by dropping the winning pass in the game vs. Bakersfield, convinces his friend, and former star quarterback, Reno Hightower, to help him re-stage the game. Jack's father-in-law, an alumni of the rival team, is more than willing to set up the game. This pursuit affects their lives and the lives of those in their small town.

Dad's Preview: I played high school football, and certainly remember the game I'd like to replay. Against Wylie we had a huge half-time lead, then they came roaring back and beat us. We finished 5 and 5 - not a "winning season" as we'd hoped. Burns my ass to this day. This movie is about the game that got away. Russell and Williams are excellent as old high school teammates. Williams forever obsesses about "dropping the ball" that lost the game for Taft High. He feels that all his life's failures are because of that single moment in time. Though a hilarious comedy, it's about regrets, the "Glory Days", accepting your age, and yes, by God, replaying that game! Go Taft! Kill Bakersfield!

Kings Road Entertainment; Universal Pictures

From an age of innocence comes a hero for today.

Starring: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Barbara Hershey, Robert Prosky, Richard Farnsworth

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I guess some mistakes you never stop paying for." - Roy Hobbs

Why watch this? This is the greatest baseball, and maybe sports, movie ever made.

Plot Summary: Young Roy Hobbs is a talented baseball prodigy, leaving his childhood sweetheart and setting off to Chicago with dreams of making it in the big leagues. However, a shocking event derails his promising career, leaving his baseball dreams suspended. Years later, a now middle-aged Hobbs resurfaces as a rookie for the struggling New York Knights, attracting the attention of both a corrupt team owner and a persistent sports journalist as he chases both greatness and redemption.

Dad's Preview: There is something so grand about this fictitious story of a great baseball player who nobody ever heard of. There is a throw-back atmosphere as we once again visit old ballparks around the USA. The whole affair drips of nostalgia. Redford is flawless as the underdog Hobbs. You don't have to be sports fan to enjoy this classic film... because courage, determination, true love and triumph of the human spirit - these themes are universal.

Delphi II Productions; Tri-Star Pictures

Some People Just Don't Belong.

Starring: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, Bill Murray, Cindy Morgan, Sarah Holcomb, Henry Wilcoxen, Scott Colomby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Oh, this your wife, huh? A lovely lady. Hey baby, you must've been something before electricity." – Al Czervik

Why watch this? It's an all-star cast, but Mr. Dangerfield steals every scene.

Plot Summary: At its center is a feud between two rich fellows: One an uptight snob, the other an easy-going slob. Their dislike for one another comes to a head, with all to be settled in a single round of golf at the country club. Meanwhile, the club's deranged groundskeeper prepares to finally blow up a pesky gopher who has been destroying the course.

Dad's Preview: This raunchy comedy launched the movie careers of Chase and Murray, and it made Rodney Dangerfield a household name. Every scene is a mini-SNL-skit about golf. The rest is horny teens, Chevy's dry wit and a water-logged Baby Ruth bar. This iconic comedy classic sets the course record for laughs.

Orion Pictures; Warner Bros.

He's a has-been battler with one dream left...and one last chance.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Thayer David, Joe Spinell, Jimmy Gambina

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood." - Rocky Balboa

Why watch this? One of the best underdog stories ever. Yo!

Plot Summary: Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer from Philadelphia, works as a debt collector but dreams of a bigger purpose in life. The opportunity arises when the flamboyant heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, looking for a challenger to celebrate the bicentennial, unexpectedly chooses Rocky for a title fight. With the help of a grizzled trainer and the burgeoning love of a shy woman, Rocky embarks on a grueling training regimen, driven by a desire to prove himself and go the distance with the champ.

Dad's Preview: Stallone was determined to make is as a star in Hollywood. This was literally his vehicle to do that. He wrote the screenplay, and insisted that the lead be played by himself. It was a big gamble, and it paid off. Like Rocky himself, the underdog film won the Best Picture Oscar. It really is a great movie with strong performances by its cast. Who can forget long-time character actor Burgess Meredith, who warmed our hearts as Rocky's grumpy trainer, Mickey.

Chartoff-Winkler Productions; United Artists

Once he fought for a dream. Now he's fighting for love!

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Ton Burton, Joe Spinell, Leonard Gaines

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!" - Mickey

Why watch this? It really holds water against its predecessor; the ending is worth the wait.

Plot Summary: Following their epic fight, Rocky Balboa now has the respect of the boxing world. He navigates newfound fame and family life with Adrian, struggling with financial setbacks as he adjusts to a world outside the ring. Meanwhile, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, facing public scrutiny and his own bruised pride, decides he must challenge Rocky to a rematch. Despite initial reluctance and Adrian's disapproval due to the risks involved, Rocky eventually agrees to fight Apollo once more.

Dad's Preview: As with Rocky (1976), Stallone wrote the Rocky II script and this time took over as the film's director. He does a very nice job in that seat. The film follows an excellent plot where the climax, again, ends in the ring with a rematch against the powerful Apollo Creed. This final bout, though bloody and brutal, is one for the ages. Can the underdog hang in there against the champ... again? Is it even thinkable that he can win?

Chartoff-Winkler Productions; United Artists

HOPE COMES ALIVE

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, Ivory Jackson, Connie Britton, Connie Cooper

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #46 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Friday Night Lights

"Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders." - Coach Gaines

Why watch this? High school football is one of America's great, unique experiences.

Plot Summary: The Permian Panthers, a high school football team in the football-obsessed town of Odessa, Texas, faces the pressures of the community's intense expectations to win a state championship. After a significant setback in their opening game, the team and their coach must navigate a challenging season, confronting their own aspirations, personal struggles, and the intense scrutiny of the townspeople.

Dad's Preview: Glory Days. The band playing. Cheerleaders. The crack of contact. This film follows a Texas team's season. We see the glory, but also the price it exacts. Injuries. Toxic masculinity. Demanding school boards. Obsessed Coaches. Pressure to win. As a former player, I've seen it all. Still, Texas football also saved a fat little kid, taught him the value of hard work, and put him on the path to becoming a good and decent man and father. This gritty film captures all that and more.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures