Mystery, Alaska (1999, R)
Directed by M. Jay Roach
Written by David E. Kelly and Sean O'Byrne
Starring Russell Crowe, Burt Reynolds, Hank Azaria, Ron Eldard, Colm Meany, Maury Chaykin, Mary McCormack, Lolita Davidovich, Kevin Durand, Ryan Northcott, and Rachel Wilson
As Reviewed by James Brundage
All right. I admit it. After seeing Lake Placid and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, the concept of a collaboration of David "The Bill Gates of TV" E. Kelley and M. Jay "Cock" Roach didn't seem like an altogether good idea. Revision: it seemed like a terrible idea. Despite the nice shot in the preview of the kid rocketing down the ice, when the voice-over said "David E. Kelley, the writer 'Ally MacBeal' and 'The Practice' and M. Jay Roach, the director of Austin Powers" I groaned. I expected it to be so bad that I brought a book along with me.
A few minutes worth of word of mouth and my book went back in the car.
Unlike most movies that come highly recommended while seeming incredibly mainstream, Mystery, Alaska did not disappoint me. It did not annoy me. It did not make me cry, but it sure as hell made me laugh.
Mystery, Alaska is the story of a grassroots hockey team that ends up on the cover of Sports Illustrated because of an article a former town dweller (Charles Danner, played by Hank Azaria) wrote. In it, Danner claims that "the team of Mystery, Alaska has the skill to rival any of the NHL." This being American and this movie being Hollywood, the New York Rangers decide to take the challenge and send up the team as a publicity stunt.
The first thing that will surprise you about Mystery, Alaska, aside from its incredible scenery and ability to blend toilet humor with intelligence, is the depth to which each character is explored. They are all fully dynamic individuals with background. They all have their humorous side, they all have their human side, and they all have their conflicts. While real life may not be that interesting or complete, what we the critics like to call this is good characterization. It's what lets the hooks penetrate our rocky hides and drag us into the movie.
To start off with, we have John Biebe (Russell Crowe), the closest thing to a main character that the movie has. Biebe has been playing hockey all his life, is desperately in love with his wife, and is the all-American Alaskan that we'd expect. He's even the town sheriff. Then we have the aforementioned writer Danner, who only seeks acceptance of the town. We have, for partial comedic effect and partial seriousness, Skank (a nickname), played by Ron Eldard. Skank gets his name for the obvious reason that he is promiscuous to the Nth degree. We have big-bodied, big-hearted Adam "Tree" Lane (Kevin Durand). We have the overweight lawyer who only loves hockey (Maury Chaykin). The Judge who is initially against inviting the Rangers to play (Burt Reynolds). And, this being a small town, the couple that is trying to go all the way right under their parents noses (Rachel Wilson and Ryan Northcott).
Although these characters may not be real, and the story is very obviously not, the movie gives the impression of reality. Hollywood being the business of illusions, and the best illusions being the most realistic looking, Mystery, Alaska does a very good job.
David E. Kelley should be lauded on his ability to sidestep every cliché that could have found its way into the movie. The characters aren't stock, the ending unpredictable, and the laughs often shocking.
But I'm not all great words for Mystery. It did use the toilet humor a little too much, and it begins to get on your nerves after about thirty seconds.
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