September 30–October 7, 1999

movie shorts

Mystery, Alaska

The apparently inexhaustible David E. Kelley (The Practice, Ally McBeal) strikes again (as writer), revisiting the quirky snowbound community idea (once known as TV’s Northern Exposure), and goosing it with some Rockyish underdog story about a small town hockey team. The characters are stock, which isn’t to say they’re unappealing, just overly familiar: you keep waiting for them to get on with the plot they’re fated to follow. Russell Crowe is the goodhearted but embattled team captain, Mary McCormack his adorably decent wife, Burt Reynolds the crusty judge, Ron Eldard the dick-swinging star player, and Maury Chaykin and Colm Meaney your standard opinionated townies. Hank Azaria plays the embittered homeboy returned from the big city with the offer no one can refuse: he brings the New York Rangers to play a one-off game, to put "Mystery on the map." Director Jay Roach (who made both Austin Powers movies) shows you lots of mountains and snow and tranquility disrupted (by the media onslaught accompanying the Rangers). But really, this story was old when Kelley first wrote it, however many years ago. We’re all ready for something that this guy hasn’t done before.

—Cindy Fuchs