Wildcats Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Wildcats Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 15, 2021

In 1976, director Michael Ritchie created “The Bad News Bears,” which went on to become a comedy classic and a beloved sports-themed film. It dealt honestly and hilariously with the realities of team sports, capturing a refreshingly honest underdog movie experience. In 1986, Ritchie returns to the same concept with “Wildcats,” this time joined by Goldie Hawn, who plays the coach of a struggling high school football team, tasked with whipping slackers into shape, a job the character isn’t sure about. For his second time around, an older Ritchie doesn’t have the same dedication to nailing the nuances of the sport or the team dynamic, put in charge of Hawn-branded entertainment, which was big business in the 1980s, finding the actress riding the success of “Private Benjamin” into several cheery knockoffs. “Wildcats” isn’t nearly as sharp as it could be, with Ritchie and writer Ezra Sacks (“FM,” “A Small Circle of Friends”) playing it safe with the material, dealing with broad humor and cliched personal problems. The whole thing is meant to be held together by Hawn’s charm, and there’s plenty of that, but the production is missing a strong screenplay, giving the sport and its participants some needed Buttermaker-approved grit.

A high school track coach, Molly (Goldie Hawn) was raised on football thanks to her father’s influence, learning to love the strategy and power of the game. When a football coaching opportunity opens up at her school, Molly’s application is blocked by rival Darwell (Bruce McGill), instead offered a varsity coaching gig at Central High, located in the most economically depressed area of Chicago. Accepting the chance to prove herself, Molly is soon confronted by the Wildcats, a collection of seniors (including Wesley Snipes, Mykelti Williamson, and Woody Harrelson) who don’t care about the game or their school. Willing to put in the work to transform the team, Molly struggles to reach the players, trying to earn their respect as they gradually become a unit. She’s also facing trouble at home, with her ex-husband, Frank (James Keach), retaining a domineering presence in her life, urging her to trade the Wildcats for a more dignified position at a private school.

“Wildcats” has a spirited main title sequence, working through moments of Molly’s life with football while a rap track from LL Cool J plays, which pays tribute to the legends and appeal of the game. The tune (which apparently has never been commercially available) is wonderfully strange, and it gets the feature going tonally, preparing the audience for a celebration of gridiron achievements with an unlikely coach. The writing moves the sexism Molly faces out of the way early, as Darwell is a dismissive jerk who doesn’t want women around, looking to tank her enthusiasm for the job by helping to send her to Central High. Darwell is established as something vaguely resembling the villain of the picture, but he soon disappears for the majority of the film, which follows Molly’s education at the school, where the kids are checked out and barking Dobermans run wild in the hallways (the movie’s best sight gag).

Nipsey Russell has a supporting role as Principal Edwards, stealing scenes with his buoyant timing and hilarious character details (he has a cabinet full of peanut brittle he can’t give away after a fundraising failure), adding some magic in the early going of “Wildcats.” However, this is Hawn’s picture and she remains the lead character, with Sacks not putting in the effort to understand player personalities outside of one guy who breaks wind whenever he has a chance, and there’s Bird (Williamson), a gifted quarterback who quit the team to pursue a life of crime, only to be lured back into the position. Finch (Tab Thacker, who played House in a few “Police Academy” sequels) shows up later, with the genius offering size and brainpower to the squad. Beyond that, “Wildcats” is mostly about Molly, watching her attempt to capture the team’s attention, besting them at running and developing their playbook, slowly becoming the coach they’ve always needed.

Hawn finds her usual way to glow throughout the movie, but “Wildcats” doesn’t remain on the football field long enough. A terrible subplot forms with Molly’s custody troubles, facing off against Frank, who can’t handle her dedication to the team, which involves some child neglect as her kids start to feel abandoned. “Wildcats” shouldn’t have a courtroom sequence highlighting warring parents, but Sacks includes one, adding a formulaic crisis to strengthen Molly’s character arc. It doesn’t work, applying the brakes on a decent underdog story to deal with tedious domestic issues. It’s a football film, and should really be more focused on the team dynamic.

Wildcats Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a 'New restoration from a brand-new 2K scan." Detail isn't striking, offering a softer look at frame particulars, keeping facial surfaces and football gear only mildly textured. Field distances and urban tours are passably dimensional. With colors, reds run fairly hot at times. The rest of the palette isn't quite as pronounced, dealing well with period fashion and party lighting, and uniforms balance blacks and crisp whites. Skintones are acceptable, and Hawn's blondness pops. Greenery is appealing. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain offers a soupier look, with some chunkiness at times. Source is in good condition.

Wildcats Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix preserves the upbeat mood of "Wildcats," with an enormous amount of soundtrack selections utilized for montages and party scenes. Songs are crisply understood with a wider presence and sharp beats. Scoring cues also emerge with authority. Dialogue exchanges are distinct, finding a variety of performance choices here, including Hawn's high-pitched excitement. Crowd atmospherics and team interactions are appreciable.

Wildcats Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Drawing Up the Plays" (14:15, HD) is a video conference interview with screenwriter Ezra Sacks, who remembers his early ideas for "Wildcats," suddenly challenged to put them together for a pitch to Goldie Hawn, who loved the premise. A speedy development period followed, with Sacks working through rewrites, finding fresh ideas along the way. The interviewee discusses finding a real school to help inspire the fictional Central High, and he's delighted with casting achievements. Titled "First and Goal" throughout production, "Wildcats" eventually found a new name to avoid audience confusion, and Sacks eventually handed script control to director Michael Ritchie, who was committed to making a "Goldie Hawn comedy," not a gritty football film. Sacks remains happy with the picture, and notes the pay cable longevity of the endeavor, which gradually created a passionate fanbase.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:28, HD) is included.

Wildcats Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are a few big laughs in "Wildcats," with Ritchie working in some much-needed weirdness when he can (the end credits include a recreation of "The Super Bowl Shuffle," featuring the Wildcats and their cover of the aforementioned LL Cool J tune), and Hawn's enthusiasm is infectious, bringing some life to the picture. Ritchie doesn't offer the same dry wit and coarse mischief found in "The Bad News Bears," electing to make something with a lighter sense of humor and more predictability. "Wildcats" doesn't reach its potential, but it's mild entertainment for those hunting for something that's easy on the senses.