WILDCATS (1986)

Directed By: Michael Ritchie 
Written By: Ezra Sacks 
Cinematography: Donald E. Thorin 
Editor: Richard A. Harris 


Cast: Goldie Hawn, James Keach, Bruce McGill, Tab Thacker, Nipsey Russell, Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Mykelti Williamson, Swoosie Kurtz, Robyn Lively, Jan Hooks, Nick Corri, M. Emmet Walsh, Ellia English, Gloria Stuart, L.L. Cool J 


Molly is a high school track coach who knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When the football coach's position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite expecting sniggers from fellow staff members and her former husband.

This is more a culture clash comedy that is stereotypical but not necessarily In a mean way. Nor does it take the forefront. It’s a light comedy with harsh language. That I watched many times growing up.

This is a kind of feminist comedy where a divorced woman tries to be financially stable and achieve success at all costs and prove to all who doubt her she is good enough and can be successful.

One of the things I notice usually when watching Goldie Hawn movies is that they usually fall into the category of not being really good as I remember or not being over the top funny, but they are entertaining and good enough usually due to her and her performance.

In this film she is more hard edged and funny not as ditzy funny. This film tries to have a strong feminist theme. While also dipping a lot into so called urban comedy, Which helps the movie. As there are other colorful personalities on the screen.

One of the joys of the film is that the comedy is not so heavily on her shoulders. The team and the personalities also provide a lot of the humor. Especially with a cast of future superstars such as Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson in the supporting cast. Giving energetic and hilarious performances. Both their debuts and the beginning of Wesley snipes early roles where he seemed to always play some type of athlete.

It pushes the film to a success of course the film by now is dated. Yet it still strikes a chord when watching it. --Racism is never discussed or openly brought up but seems heavily implied.

This is a film my uncle always watched as it was always on HBO. But he taped it and would watch it constantly. Which is why I can still to this day remember the film vividly scene to scene. Even after having watched it in a number of years. Watching it recently I remembered what would happen. So it was kind of like watching an old family home video of sorts. Where from time to time you get excited reminiscing over the things you remember and getting nostalgic for times they are inspiring.

Of course now you know what certain jokes mean and that makes scenes have more of a depth or more comedic. Then when you were younger and didn’t know what certain terms or words meant.

This film was directed by Michael Ritchie. An old school director and underappreciated comedic director. Here he shows he still has the talent even if the material feels a little out of his reach. 

GRADE: C+