Sparky Movie Review: The Mighty Ducks

Zach Keenan talks about The Mighty Ducks on our next review.

Check out our other reviews here:

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Moneyball

Rudy

Miracle

Kazaam

Remember the Titans

I’ll throw a knucklepuck at you:

The Mighty Ducks is one of the greatest underdog stories Disney could have masterminded. A young Emilio Estevez is reluctantly forced by the court to coach the District Five hockey team, whose players pride themselves on faking injuries and drawing penalties over passing the puck and scoring goals. The movie is an all-time feel good classic- showing how a ragtag group of kids were motivated once a coach believed in them.

It’s the ultimate Disney story of a coach learning something from his players, too.

But aside from any of these points, take the one that the trilogy inspired the creation of the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL! Although most of the cast may not have gone on to full career’s like that of Estevez, the Mighty Ducks team is cast with lovable, goofy longshots without much talent. Instead? They worked hard.

Again- it’s the Disney feel-good formula. Although some scenes may be a departure from that formula, such as Coach Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) blowing up at his boss at work and a police officer pulling him over for drunk driving. In these, however, are some of the most comedic exchanges in the film:

Police Officer:

Could you turn down the stereo?

Gordon Bombay:

[drunkenly] Sure. I guess it was a ‘widdle’ noisy.

Police Officer:

A ‘widdle’? OK, I’m taking down to precinct. Breath, blood or urine?

Gordon Bombay:

[drunkenly] No, thanks. I’m full.

Disney went on to produce two more Mighty Ducks films, although the second one may have overstayed its welcome and the third rivals The Godfather III in poor trilogy endings.