Review of Slap Shot (1977) by Marcus M — 29 Sep 2009

A cult classic, especially in Canada where it did better at the box office than Jaws! Slapshot is believed to be among the most rented videos of all time. I never saw it because of all the raunchy language, but finally watched a cleaned up version on Versus.

An all-time adolescent male movie favorite, I can see why Paul Newman considered this one of his favorite roles and movie experiences. This is clearly against type for him. In the same vein as other raunchy 70's college age humor classics like Animal House, Caddyshack and Stripes, it has the same flaws (rude vulgarity, zany dialogue, unnecessary nudity along with some violence) and some of the same strengths (you care about the main characters' longing for love, inane hysterical situations, classic minor characters like the Hanson brothers, and here, a bittersweet ending).