A rookie hockey player has to choose between his father’s brutal code of violence or his coach’s approach to unified teamwork in this remake of the 1986 film of the same name.
Audiences were introduced to Dean Youngblood back in 1986. Played by Rob Lowe, the character was a farm boy who pursues an ice hockey career in Canada. He clashes with rival players, struggles to discover what’s important to him, and finds himself falling for his coach’s daughter. Forty years later, audiences are reintroduced to Dean Youngblood. This time he’s a young man from Detroit who joins the Hamilton Mustangs. He clashes with rival players, struggles to discover what’s important to him, and finds himself falling for his coach’s daughter. It’s a safe approach to retelling the story from director Hubert Davis in his second cinematic ice hockey outing since his 2022 documentary, Black Ice.
I don’t often find myself watching sports films. Sure, I saw The Longest Yard and I absolutely love The Water Boy, but I haven’t gone out of my way to see things like Friday Night Lights. That said, I’m not exactly the target demographic for films like Youngblood, and I sat down for my viewing with literally zero expectations. To my pleasant surprise, I found myself invested in the journey of young Dean and I looked forward to seeing his eventual rise or downfall. This is mostly thanks to the performances of Youngblood’s cast. Starring rising actor, Ashton James, and film alumni Blair Underwood, as Dean and his father respectively, the movie quickly familiarizes the audience with the roots of Youngblood’s aggression. James’ performance ranges from soft spoken to hostile, while Underwood’s perfectly captures the tone of a father who mistakes aggression for strength. In our current era of hostile masculinity, the duo and their journey is a welcomed look at where such behavior often comes from, and what it does if it isn’t reigned in.
Youngblood had four writers behind it, which would often worry me about having “too many cooks in the kitchen”. However, Youngblood is far from a disjointed mess. With proper pacing, a heartfelt narrative, character interactions that feel organic, and a story that entertains those of us who usually couldn’t care less about sports, the script for Youngblood sticks its landing. This is thanks to Josh Epstein, Kyle Rideout, Seneca Aaron, and Charles Officer, all putting in effort for a clear cut narrative that entertains as much as it inspires. I’ll reiterate that I have no experience with the original film, nor do I find myself seeking out sports dramas, yet this take on the original Rob Lowe / Patrick Swayze flick locked me in from the start and kept me hooked all the way through the credits. If the creative team managed to win me over, I can only imagine that fans of ice hockey and sports dramas will find themselves right at home. Unexpectedly deep, and overall enjoyable, Youngblood is a worthwhile entry within my growing film library.
With more off-ice drama than in-game action, some audience members may be left wanting for more. However, every moment spent on the ice is filmed beautifully with completely clear shots. You won’t find any shaky camera work here. Cinematographer Stuart James Cameron’s work energizes every game, captures every emotional moment without unnecessary flare, and keeps every shot clean and stable throughout the entirety of the film. Pair that with an equally appropriate soundtrack by composer Todor Kobakov, and you have yourself a smooth and palatable presentation for the entire runtime of the film. With tension, action, romance, and relatable drama, passionately transferred from script-to-screen, Youngblood is well worth a viewing for any hockey fans, or anyone who enjoys a good sports drama. Viewers should stick around for a mid-credit scene that’s sure to put a smile on their face. While not an entirely unique story, this one is a long shot from being a bad movie. If you find yourself wanting to watch a worthwhile coming of age tale about self discovery and personal growth, give Youngblood a shot.
Youngblood is currently available on Blu-ray and digital from our friends at Well Go USA.