Varsity Blues (1999)

I love this movie so much

Touches You

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Varsity Blues is one of the films when you think about when you think of the 1990s in terms of motion pictures.The film features a talented cast with James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Scott Cann, Ron Lester, Amy Smart, Ali Larter among others.Each of them brought a very good performance which you don't always seen in a Teen Drama/Comedy let alone one about High School Football in Texas where Football is law.Having rediscover the film after so long I got to enjoy it more and it still holds up to being a well balance film. They balance the drama which is very important considering the plot of the film and it characters plus the comedy helps that will make you laugh.The story is very good as it will keep your interest from the start of the film and if you love Football this is what you will enjoy.The acting is very well matched as again the cast worked very well together and you can feel them giving their A game in terms of performances. Music is very good as well and you'll enjoy the songs that are on the soundtrackVarsity Blues shows the drama of what football in Texas can be like and how it effects everyone from your friends to your family this teen drama really showcases what High School is like when you're a Football player and how you are seenThe film deserves more credit then it gets so do yourself a favor and watch this film not only if you're a fan of the cast members but if you are a fan of Football and drama filmsI give Varsity Blues an 8 out of 10

Varsity Blues (1999): Dir: Brian Robbins / Cast: James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Scott Caan: Sports comedy with screwball elements yet takes its theme seriously. It regards a football team that has lost its star quarterback to a leg injury and how James Van Der Beek steps in becoming their star player. His parents jerk him in several directions. His relationship with his girlfriend is in pearl. His best friend's girlfriend presents herself with whipped cream covering her vital areas. Sounds like he has his dating life well in hand. Coach Bud threatens to terminate his scholarship. Despite its familiar grounds this film is a must for football fans. Huge improvement for director Brian Robbins who previously made an embarrassing ham handed mess called Good Burger. Van Der Beek is effective as he attempts to figure out where his life is headed. Jon Voight steal scenes as Bud whom Van Der Beek confronts regarding particular conduct that moves the team ahead. Paul Walker plays the injured quarterback whom Van Der Beek replaces. Ron Lester brings comic relief as Van Der Beek's friend who ended up with more concussions than needed. Another comic performance is from the wild antics of Scott Caan that are this side of breaking the law. Great combination of football action combined with screwball comedy and a strong theme regarding the illegal operations to succeed. Score: 8 / 10

Varsity Blues is about as predictable a movie as you will ever see. It's a movie about high school football which is pretty much like every other movie about high school football. Every cliché of the genre is here. The overbearing coach. The football-obsessed town. The parents living vicariously through their children. The players who see football as their only means of escape. The intellectual player who realizes there's more to life than football. The cheerleader who just wants to be with the star, whoever the star may be at a given moment. The big, fat guy who's there for comic relief. The injury that changes everything. The big game at the end. Did I miss any? Oh yes, of course, the biggest cliché of all...Texas. Where else would you set a movie about a town where high school football is the only thing that matters?So you know what you're in for with this movie. Nothing is going to surprise you here. But as predictable and formulaic as it is Varsity Blues still provides reasonably decent entertainment. The characters may all be clichéd but a number of them still manage to be compelling. James Van Der Beek is the star of the movie, if not the football team. He plays the intellectual backup quarterback, Mox, a guy who plays football not because he wants to but because it is what he is expected to do. Mox's situation changes, how Mox responds to that change is the crux of the movie's rather simple story. Van Der Beek's performance is by no means extraordinary but for this movie it works perfectly fine. He creates a character we can relate to and root for. And Jon Voight, playing the thoroughly detestable Coach Bud Kilmer, does an excellent job creating a character we can despise and root against. Kilmer is a hard-driving jerk, a man who cares only about winning football games. He cares not how many young bodies he must destroy to win another district championship. The conflict between Mox, who gets what life is really about, and Kilmer, who most certainly does not, is quite dramatic. And if a high school football movie can give you some good drama that's really all you can ask. There is nothing spectacular about Varsity Blues. There is nothing that really sets it apart from all the other movies of its type you have already seen. But it is at least entertaining enough to be worth your while. There are good dramatic moments, a few good laughs, some compelling characters. And some rather inventively used whipped cream. It may not rise above its genre but for what it is, and all it was ever meant to be, Varsity Blues is a success.

I just watched this movie for the first time a couple of weeks ago. This is due to my very recent interest in anything Paul Walker. Shallow, I know.I am not a football fan, nor am I an athlete, but I found the game scenes fascinating. I usually skip the other parts just to watch the game scenes. And soundtrack is awesome.I don't like cerebral or artsy movies. I need to rest my brain after work. So its rare that I watch any of those Oscar-type movies. This movie is perfect for what I need.The storyline has been used before. But I like those kinds of story anyway. I like seeing the good guys win, even if its just in the movies.