Varsity Blues

Starring:James Van Der Beek, Amy Smart, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Scott Caan, Richard Lineback, Ali Larter, Tiffany C. Love, Eliel Swinton, Thomas F. Duffy, Jill Parker-Jones, Tonie Perensky, Joe Pichler, Mark Walters, Brady Coleman, James N. Harrell, Jesse Plemons, Sam Pleasant, Tim Crowley
Director: Brian Robbins
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This MTV-produced drama only looks like an adaptation of H.G. Bissinger's expert dissertation of the church of high school football, Friday Night Lights. The energetic, breezy movie has none of the seriousness of Bissinger's book except on its basic level: in West Texas, high school football is life. Into this world comes Jonathan "Mox" Moxon (James Van Der Beek), a brainy, uncharacteristic jock who sits on the sideline reading Slaughterhouse Five until the West Caanan High School Coyotes All-Texas QB goes down with an injury. Suddenly the spotlight and the tyrannical ways of coach Bud Kilmer (another ace evil turn by Jon Voight) are on Mox and the light is white-hot. There have been several films that show tough, honest kids doing their best against the worst of small-town coaches (Tom Cruise in All the Right Moves, for one) but Varsity Blues, in its glossy style, takes a more curious turn: studying what happens when celebrity comes to the well-adjusted high schooler. Mox starts seeing the rewards of stardom: a six-pack under the counter, acceptance in school, even easy sex from the girl who goes after the starting quarterback (Ali Larter). Will Mox win the big game? Will he bend to the wills of his coach? Will he stay with his old girlfriend? The questions are easy enough to answer, but the film has an ace up its sleeve: Van Der Beek has the stuff to carry the movie. Fans of TV's Dawson's Creek will see a slightly grittier dreamboat here, and Van Der Beek's care with the role makes the most ludicrous parts--including a trip to a strip club--manage a certain aura. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

fun and true.......2006-09-09

Okay, this is not a deep thought provoking documentary; it is, however, an uncannily accurate depiction of small town life in general and small town football in particular. Of course there are the riotous moments of teen insanity specifically unique to small towns (have you ever played quarters with a pet pig in your vicinity?) and Tweeder stealing the police car is just classic, no matter where you are from. Underneath the comedy, though, there is a lot of truth to these characters and this story. Football is a small town religion, and every Friday night is a worship service at the altar of the pigskin. The movie captures this feeling well, along with the frustration of feeling trapped in a small town and wondering if you will ever get out -- and if you do get out, where will you go? Nevermind that Van der Beek's accent is not terribly authentic, or that this ***spoiler alert*** has a somewhat sappy ending. If you grew up in a small town, you can probably put a name on each of these characters; if you didn't, get the movie and find out what it's like.

"Good Moooning, Good Mooning, Good Mooning".......2006-07-10

The movie is based on a "piece" of everyone's life, in some small way, who have ever played football. Does it matter that HS kids get in a strip club and drink till 6:00am ? "NO" Does it matter that Hoss is sitting on a tailgate, drinking Jack like its water ... and shooting a shotgun, with the HS Football Field lights on ? "NOOOOO" !!!!

It is "Rocky" + "Friday Night Lights" + "Rudy" + "Stand By Me" = Varisty Blues.

If you played football, or ever hung out with the guys after a game, or ever LAUGHED at the guys who couldn't leave HS even after they graduated 9 years ago ... Then buy the movie, its worth it, and the soundtrack ROCKS !!!!

Great Football Movie.......2005-11-14

This is by far my favorite movie about football. It is about football players playing in a small town where the dads wished they were still playing and the coach is mean son of a gun that has to get his way. It is very entertaining and and has some funny parts and some serious ones too. BillyBob and Tweeder provide tons of laughs in this movie. James Van Der Beek does a good job in this movie as the backup quarterback that becomes the star starting quarterback when the starter gets hurt. Jon Voigt also does a good job in this movie playing the mean coach. All in all this movie was extremely good with some great football action and some very funny moments.

Varsity Blues.......2005-10-24

by Aaron Miller.

The starting quarterback Lance is injured. The second string quarterback steps up and takes his team to the playoffs.

A good action scene was when the offensive guard Billy Bob blocks for a game-winning touchdown. The football game showed great action when second string quarterback Mox goes and wins the game after the first string quarterback gets hurt.

I enjoyed the suspense of Varsity Blues, when quarterback Lance gets hurt. You didn't know if he will come back into the game. I also enjoyed the suspense in the scene where quarterback Mox takes his team to the playoffs and out of nowhere wins the game.

A good comedy scene is when Tweeter stole the cop car after getting drunk. A romance scene would be when Mox and his girlfriend went on a date. Another scene of drama would
be when Mox and his girlfriend make up.

If you enjoy football movies you should rent and watch Varsity Blues.

Good movie, but not enough Paul Walker.......2005-07-28

Okay, I know this was a James Van Der Beek geared movie, but I wish it had shown more of Paul Walker's character. One of the most interesting things about the story was that Lance and Jonathan were best friends. We never really got to see how these guys actually worked through the strains that were put on their friendship by everything that happened - before and during the movie.

Jonathan had been in Lance's shadow for years. Everyone in town worshiped Lance, young and old. Then Jon became the star because Lance got hurt. Lance's girlfriend dropped him and went after Jon. Jon got into Brown Univeristy while Lance's dreams went down the drain. I mean, one trip to the the strip club and everythings okay?

Paul Walker is a good actor and could have done great with some meatier scenes and a bigger role. Too bad the director couldn't see that.

But that aside, Van Der Beek is good and Jon Voight was perfect as the coach.

Average customer rating:

fun and true
"Good Moooning, Good Mooning, Good Mooning"
Great Football Movie
Varsity Blues
Good movie, but not enough Paul Walker

Varsity Blues [Region 2]
Starring: James Van Der Beek , Amy Smart , Jon Voight , Paul Walker , and Ron Lester
Director: Brian Robbins
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Any Given Sunday (Special Edition Director's Cut) - Oliver Stone Collection
Friday Night Lights [HD DVD]
The Replacements
Necessary Roughness
Remember the Titans (Director's Cut)

ASIN: B00005QIXU

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

fun and true.......2006-09-09

"Good Moooning, Good Mooning, Good Mooning".......2006-07-10

Great Football Movie.......2005-11-14

Varsity Blues.......2005-10-24

Good movie, but not enough Paul Walker.......2005-07-28

Average customer rating:

Longest Yard/Varsity Blues
Starring: Football Double Feature
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Average customer rating:

fun and true
"Good Moooning, Good Mooning, Good Mooning"
Great Football Movie
Varsity Blues
Good movie, but not enough Paul Walker

Varsity Blues [Region 2]
Starring: James Van Der Beek , Amy Smart , Jon Voight , Paul Walker , and Ron Lester
Director: Brian Robbins
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video