Stockwell review: Super football films that rule comedy field

Four score and 22 years ago, a group of men came forth in this great nation to form what would be known as the National Football League. Fourteen teams from around the Great Lakes (New York, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois) began play that year, with two inaugural franchises still in existence today. The Racine Cardinals (which took the name of a street in Chicago) and the Decatur Staleys (named after the sponsoring company) would become the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears, respectively.

While many consider America’s pastime to be baseball, American football has become one of the most popular sports in the world. This Sunday is the unofficial national holiday of Super Sunday, in which the championship game, the Super Bowl, is to be played to an estimated audience of 100 million people.

Like baseball, football has had its fair share of movies made using the sport as a backdrop. Though dramas surrounding the life and times of the people who have played the game are excellent views, I decided to look at four comedies (we all could use a laugh these days) for this week’s column. In addition, I’ll give you a few trivia questions, so you can be the life of the party come this weekend.

But first, did you hear about the vending machine incident at the home offices of the Chicago Bears? Apparently, head coach Matt Nagy and General Manager Ryan Pace called in a technician to fix it, because they needed a quarter back.

Trivia Question No. 1 – What are the four teams that have not appeared in a Super Bowl?

Answer – Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

“Little Giants” (1994)

Danny O’Shea (Rick Moranis) has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, star football player Kevin (Ed O’Neill), in their hometown. When Kevin cuts Danny’s daughter Becky the “Icebox” from the pee-wee football team, the time has come to start their own squad. Because their village can only send one team to the playoffs, Danny challenges Kevin to a game whose winner will represent the little Ohio hamlet. Since all the best athletes play for Kevin, Danny and Becky assemble a ragtag group of non-skilled, left-out kids in an attempt to prove that heart is the strongest muscle in the body (along with a good helping of brains).

Despite the familiar underdog trope, the film will bring a smile to your face, but, more importantly, a load of laughs. It is nothing short of hysterical as the team is put together and then faces off in classic David and Goliath fashion. Is it predictable? Of course, it is. However, the film ties everything up wonderfully and teaches a lesson without hitting the audience over the head with it. A great way to spend 107 minutes; Prime has it for $3.99.

Question No. 2 – Name the four teams who have not lost a Super Bowl?

Answer – New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens

“Necessary Roughness” (1991)

In a little different spin on the underdog story, perennial powerhouse Texas State gets sanctioned for just about every recruiting violation possible, leaving the team without any star players. The university hires straight-arrow Ed Gennero (Hector Elizondo) to coach a team made up of whomever he can find without the use of scholarships. Along with assistant Wally Rig (Robert Loggia) and a group of misfits, they try to rebuild the program at TSU.

The cast is one of the film’s strong points, with Scott Bakula, Sinbad, Larry Miller, Rob Schneider, Jason Bateman and supermodel Kathy Ireland bouncing off one another like loose fumbles. The lines are witty and very comical, and though the story does have a rather clichéd ending, it will make you smile. It is not really for younger kids (PG-13), given some of the situations are more adult-oriented, but an older crowd will enjoy the 108 minutes of football and fun. It is free with a Prime membership.

Question No. 3 – 28 winners have scored 30 points or more, but who scored the most in a loss?

Answer – New England, who lost 41–33 to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII

“The Waterboy” (1998)

Funnyman Adam Sandler takes his turn on the gridiron with this late ’90s gem. Bobby Boucher (Sandler) is both a mamma’s boy and water boy for the University of Louisiana. Through a series of unfortunate events, Boucher ends up at another school, South Central Louisiana State. There he meets Coach Klein (played by the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler) and begins to turn his misfortunes into a playing career.

The movie has typical Sandler humor (he also wrote it) and that means somewhat juvenile and goofy, but honestly, it is a lot of fun. The undertone of bullying is at times tough to take, but in the end, the film overcomes the odds and provides the traditional riding-off-into-the-sunset moment. For fans of football, you will laugh at the lines and the cameos. It is refreshing to see the great Kathy Bates in a comedy, which she tackles with gusto. Prime has it for $3.99.

Question No. 4 – What is the significance of Super Bowl XX between the Bears and the Patriots?

Answer – Most notably, it is the last time two teams played who had never appeared in a Super Bowl before.

“Leatherheads” (2008)

The last movie choice is one of those under-the-radar films that, despite being panned by many people, is actually quite funny. Set in 1925, Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly (George Clooney) is the big football star for the Duluth Bulldogs. When they lose their sponsor, it seems like the team (and the league) are going to go under. Connelly then is able to land Carter “The Bullet” Rutherford (John Krasinski) to help ignite interest in the game.

The film is really a throwback to the days of Chaplin and Keaton and the screwball comedy, which is why it may not have done as well as producers hoped. There are several laugh-out-loud moments and some other great chuckles in the almost two-hour movie. Unlike the other three films on the list, it doesn’t follow the standard cliché. In fact, the ending is fun and creative. It is a nice change of pace, as well as giving a slight glimpse into the days of the leather helmets. Showtime has it for $3.99

Four films lead up to the four quarters played for a championship. Remember, the team that does all the “little things” usually comes out on top – “four-shadowing” next week’s review. Happy viewing!

• Jim Stockwell is a tenured instructor of film and broadcast journalism at McHenry County College, teaching Introduction to Film, Advanced Film and Introduction to Public Speaking.