VARSITY BLUES (1999)
A Film Review by Ted Prigge
Copyright 1999 Ted Prigge
Director: Brian Robbins
Writer: W. Peter Iliff
Starring: James Van Der Beek, Jon Voigt, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Scott Caan, Richard Lineback, Ali Larter, Amy Smart, Eliel Swinton, Thomas F. Duffy, Jll Parker Jones, Joe Pichler, Tonie Perensky
The plot, structure, and even many of the jokes of "Varsity Blues" hail all the way back to 80s teen movies and sports movies spanning the entire length of cinematic history: it's part team tries to win despite adversity, part teenagers trying to overcome pressure from adult would-be role models. I've seen this way too many times before, as you probably have as well if you grew up in the heyday of the 80s, viewing films by John Hughes on a bi-weekly basis and intaking sports molds like "Major League," like I did, a time I know I at least have numerous regrets about. But every now and then, I almost get suckered into liking a formulaic film like this, for whatever reason that is. "Varsity Blues," in particular, has a freshness I can't quite figure out. It's not exactly about either being a downtrodden teen or a sports team trying to succeed, and because it's not really much of anything may be what's so nice about it. There's not a ton of bad jokes, the more sentimental moments (the oft-joked-about "I don't want your life" scene) don't feel absolutely wretched, and the lead role is played by an actor who, while probably never capable of an Ian McKellen-like performance (just to name one superb thespian), is really likable, if not really quite good. Hell, even the cinematography is nice, accenting the blues of the football jerseys nicely.
And instead of being completely off-put with this film, as I was with a couple teen-targeted flicks of late ("Can't Hardly Wait" and "Disturbing Behavior," just to name two that made my worst-of-98 list), I was instead mildly pleased. The story, about a southern town that is devoutly married to high-school football, is yes, a little lame (it's blatantly borrowed from an undertone in "The Last Picture Show"), and even occasionally mishandled to ridiculous proportions (I just can't believe they actually had football coach Jon Voigt hold his hand up in a Hitler-esque heil, not once, but thrice). And the story of John Moxon, the film's protagonist, and his battle with not wanting to play football past high school though showing an extraordinary talent for it at the time (and becoming the star quarterback when the original quarterback suffers an injury), is at the very least tiresome and unfelt, but it's only so in theory, as is the rest of this film's entities. This film really should be a crap film that makes a minute impact on the box office then goes off to Comedy Central Mid-day Hell, but it has so many slightly positive aspects to it that I just couldn't help but be enjoying myself for at least some of it.
For just one example, the resident fat-guy subplot, usually the weak link of a film like this, is handled with a surprising amount of compassion. The said character (played by Ron Lester) is occasionally the subject of lame weight ridicule, but is later actually developed as a character, and in a scene late in the film where he sits in a depressed state with hard liquor and a shotgun actually has some feeling behind it. Even the lead character has development: instead of resorting to the stardom gimmick that this film almost goes for, it allows him to deal with these emotions himself, and when his current girlfriend nearly gives up on him, he wrestles with turning to the cliche and sleeping with the girlfriend of a friend/ex-quarterback who has been making none-too-subtle advances towards him. It's not Shakespeare, or even Neil Simon, but it shows that maybe there will be a teenage film that actually delves into the emotions of its characters in an intelligent fashion someday.
Even James Van Der Beek's performance shows something of a future promise. Currently the star of the heavily-discussed "Dawson' Creek," he puts not only some depth into his character, but perhaps more importantly for this kind of movie, a lot of charisma. He's good at making otherwise cheap emotions into genuine ones, and he's completely at-ease in front of a camera, and he defines his character so well that he nearly makes the film work just by being completely sympathetic. There are many a thing to like about this film to those who are willing to abandon any dramatic credibility at the door, but then again, this isn't THAT good. For all that I liked about it, there's still the many things I didn't like about it. Voigt, for one, though good, is saddled with a character that the film isn't sure what to do with. I guess he's a villain, but if so, what gives with the start-and-stop attempts to deepen his character (a saddened scene where he's looking over trophies, symbolizing his past successes and his frustration with the present) when the proverbial rug will be pulled from underneath anyway? Same goes with his father, who is at once shown as a hard-ruling father, ordering his son to do his will, then other times as a poor old guy who can't get any respect, not from his friends or his son (who ends up pegging him in the nose with a football, a scene of such conflicting emotions that the film isn't prepared to deal with it).
Just add to the pot the extreme fake-ness of several of the situations, the use of half-assed small-town and high school football satire, and a couple other major detractors, and this film does not exactly get a sure-fire recommendation for your's truly. It's more of a mixed bag of a film, with parts I did like and parts I didn't like, but nothing I was totally enthused about. But, as I said, it does have promise for future movies, especially with the success of the film at the boxoffice, which has been nothing short of stunning (especially for a film boasting a member of the "Dawson's Creek" gang, a show I admit to watching a couple time and admit to actually enjoying). Maybe it's the R-rating that helps this film: it's more loose-necked, less-fake, and occasionally funnier (a subplot involving a stripping teacher is not exactly good, but it's amusing). I'd like to see a teen film that managed to take what was good about this film and then expanded on it. Imagine a teen film you weren't ashamed to say that you at least sorta liked, but actually liked. And maybe it should star Van Der Beek. Yeah, sounds like a good idea.
MY RATING (out of 4): **1/2
Homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/8335/
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