You don’t need to understand the rules of Ice Hockey to appreciate SLAP SHOT, simply because the rules of the game are flouted throughout.
Paul Newman reteamed with director George Roy Hill after his collaborations with Robert Redford and the same director with BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) and THE STING (1973). Here he plays ageing player/coach Reggie Dunlop, in charge of a small-town outfit called the Charlestown Chiefs who are about to be sold off.
Aiming to revive the team’s fortunes, they recruit triplets, the Hanson Brothers, who are amongst the most brutal and physical in the game and whose actions prompt a turnaround by making the crowds want to see more violence and increase the gate takings. Pretty soon, the fortunes begin to prove fortuitous…..
A modest success in 1977 and subsequently a cult-classic, SLAP SHOT is a cheerfully profane adults-only sports comedy that pushes the right buttons. Criticised in some circles for its’ tone, this is one that is for when you are in the right mood – and Newman’s presence elevates the film above the norm.