Goon: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - I don't like most sports movies. One of the beautiful things about sport is that unless your name is Pete Rose, the ending cannot be manufactured or predetermined. They are a battle of conflicting wills with competitors battling for the same thing. When writing a sports story, it is tremendously difficult to do so in a manner that captures the uncertainty that can be found in a sporting match, while also being entertaining. Growing up, I was exposed (far more than I should have been) to bad sports movies like Angels in the Outfield, Rookie of the Year, and worse yet, D2: The Mighty Ducks. I'll admit that I'm yet to watch an English-language ice hockey film that I've liked. Slap Shot is dull, Miracle maybe lacks heart maybe since I am not 100% American, and let's not say anything more about The Love Guru. Québec has produced a number of memorable French-language hockey films like The Rocket and Les Boys, but in English it is pretty slim pickings. The closest I've come to enjoying an ice hockey movie in English was not actually about the game itself, but the battle to create the union for the players in the National Hockey League, Net Worth. Thus when I heard about Goon coming out, I limited how excited I was about it, even if I am a passionate hockey fan.

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