Conference bookie::movies

64.0. "Best of Times" by 12035::RIVERS (may this vale be my silver lining.) Wed Mar 10 1993 23:52

    Best of Time stars Kurt Russell and Robin Williams as two guys whose
    lives were changed by the outcome of a high school football game.
    
    I don't think this did particularly well when it came out (circa 1986,
    I want to say), but it's not half bad.  It's about three quarters good,
    actually.
    
    The plot concerns a nerdy Williams, the bank vice-president in a small
    California oil town (a town that was once named Moron, according to pre-
    opening monolog and who's new name completely escape my memory, that's
    how impressive it was), and a not quite so nerdy Russell, the once
    great quarterback star who now wears a knit cap, a lot of plaid shirts,
    oily denims and paints classical scenes on the side of vans for a
    living.
    
    This small town's football heritage was, shall we say, pathetic, but
    every year, they tried to roust themselves to beat Bakersfield, their
    nemesis.  In 1974, after years and years of humiliation at the hands of
    the Bakersfield Tigers, the Rockets --that's the name of their team
    see--had a chance to win.  Kurt Russell's character faded back for a
    pass, threw a mighty bomb down field and landed the ball in--and out
    of--a third rate wide receiver, Robin William's character.  In the
    ensuing aftermoments, the star quarterback was tackled and his knees
    ruined, his dreams smashed, and the third rate tackle became known
    forever after as "The Guy Who Dropped the Ball".
    
    The movie concerns changing the past by enlisting the future.  To the
    frustration of his wife, Robin William's character cannot live down
    dropping the ball, especially since his father in law (the guy who gave
    him the bank job so "that my daughter wouldn't have to marry a bum")
    was the coach of the Bakersfield Tigers.  At peril of his marriage,
    Williams endeavors to reply that game of 1974, rounding up all the
    players on both sides and righting that wrong of 20 years ago, giving
    not_Moron the kick in the ass that it needs to lift itself out of the
    lethargy it has sunk into over the years.  
    
    Not_Moron isn't particularly interested in changing the past or the
    future.  Our once great quarterback doesn't give a damn--he has his own
    domestic troubles and the rest of the town is nearly asleep. 
    Naturally, the Bakersfield side of the fence is quite eager to accept
    William's challenge--somehow, all of their players stayed in great
    shape, and there's nothing better than kicking the Rocket's butts
    twice, and we go from there....
    
    As I said, not half bad.  Russell and Williams are nice to watch,
    always, and if you appreciate morals, the movie has a couple to impart. 
    A bit slow here and there, and of course, you to wonder how someone can
    find an entire football team twenty years from the last time they were
    together, but hey, it's a movie.  The wives are dippy, the children
    bland, and the town rather gross to look at, but hey, I have seen
    Bakersfield, and it's not much better.  :) 
    
    Worth a rental if you like Kurt Russell or Robin Williams.  And I do.
    
    **.75 out of **** 
    
    kim