Youngblood Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Youngblood Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 24, 2019

“Youngblood” was released in 1986, during a time when Rob Lowe was enjoying plenty of attention for his extreme good looks, pushed into the role of a teen dreamboat after his turn in “The Outsiders,” while his appearance as the hot sax-wailing underachiever in “St. Elmo’s Fire” transformed him into a star. It’s hard not to see his role in “Youngblood” as an effort to butch up his screen appeal, participating in a junior league hockey drama that has the actor being authentic, romantic, and involved in several fights, even losing a tooth along the way. It’s not Lowe’s finest hour as an actor, but he does what he can with the feature, as writer/director Peter Markle is caught between his desire to showcase the rough ins and outs of the sport as it’s played in the corners of Canada, and producers who want something along the lines of a chillier “Karate Kid,” putting the star in an underdog position, requiring help from wizened elders. Markle has his creative successes here, but he’s also pulled into the black hole of melodrama one too many times, diluting the real flavors of the material, which are always found on the ice, not in the heart.

Dean Youngblood (Rob Lowe) is a farm boy from rural New York with a dream to play professional hockey, refusing the life his father has provided and his older brother, Kelly (Jim Youngs), has endured. Taking a chance on a tryout with the Hamilton Mustangs, Dean is soon confronted with the realities of the sport on the junior league level, meeting and besting up and coming goon Racki (George Finn), who craves revenge for his humiliation. Winning a spot with Coach Chadwick (Ed Lauter), Dean is shoved into the deep end of experience, surrounded by prank-happy teammates, including Sutton (Patrick Swayze), a veteran who warms up to the rookie, respecting his obvious talents on the ice. While trying to make a name for himself on the team, Dean’s attention is pulled to Chadwick’s teen daughter, Jessie (Cynthia Gibb), falling for the girl during a critical period of competition, hoping to use his time with the Mustangs to go pro, facing trials of doubt and injury that discourage him from living his dream.

Markle has a vision for Dean’s arc, opening “Youngblood” with a home movie of the character as a child, quickly snapping at an opponent, starting a fight on the ice. Dean isn’t a troublemaker, but he’s tough, trying out for junior league hockey, which, to the 17-year-old, represents his last shot to the pros, close to aging out of his poential before his life has even really begun. It’s hard not to notice similarities between Markle’s screenplay and the early scenes of “Star Wars,” showcasing Dean’s struggle with a dead-end life on the family farm, urging his father to hire extra hands while he sets out on his own adventure to join the rebellion. Sorry, I mean the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It’s a Skywalkian start to an Earthbound production, establishing Dean as the wide-eyed newcomer to a sporting culture that could very well kill him.

Not all of Dean’s challenges are found during game time. For starters, there’s the pronounced terror of Racki, a bulky creep who enjoys taking cheap shots. Dean’s teammates aren’t angels either, pushing the rookie to drink too much before practice, also holding him down while shaving off his pubic hair (there’s some homoerotic imagery in the feature that Markle doesn’t develop). And there’s Miss McGill (Fionnula Flanagan), who provides rooms for the players, also sampling them sexually, breaking the boys in with a special kind of tea time. Jessie is also a complication, with her primary role devoted to providing some romantic warmth for a movie that’s largely about hockey players wanting to beat one another up. Gibb is eager, delivering a chipper performance (and gratuitous nudity), but she’s also the weakest part of “Youngblood,” with Jessie’s youthful vigor turning into concerned pleas for her lover’s mental and physical health, paving the way for the picture to dip into melodrama, where it remains for most of the second half.

More compelling are the hockey sequences, which deliver passable sporting action, but Markle is better with arena atmosphere, showcasing the violent passion of the fans and the troubles with clearly overwhelmed referees. All the cheap shots, injuries (cuts are stitched up by an assistant coach who has no medical training), and teamwork (a young Keanu Reeves portrays the goalie) keep “Youngblood” lively, with Markle working to protect the picture’s grittiness, with emphasis on the sheer attitude of the matches, which, unfortunately, are few and far between. “Youngblood” has a lot of hockey, but there’s not much of a feel for the season, which keeps potentially promising developments, such as the friendship brewing between Dean and Sutton, minimal at best, finding Swayze semi-wasted here in a supporting role.

Youngblood Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Youngblood" does relatively well for an MGM catalog title while still displaying the age of the scan. Detail remains appealing with some softness, exploring the lively world of small-town hockey, giving arena gatherings depth and decoration clarity. Skin surfaces are reasonably textured, along with costuming, with hockey jersey thickness and farmhand denim registering as intended. Colors offer an evocative understanding of period ornamentation, finding Sutton's apartment filled with pink lights, while golden sunsets and greenery are defined during farming scenes. Primaries are appealing, with heavier reds and yellows for team colors, and skintones are natural, isolating the Dean's apple-cheeked appearance. Delineation is adequate. Source is in fine shape, lacking areas of heavy damage.

Youngblood Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track is slightly inconsistent, with the sound generally mixed lower throughout the listening event. Scenes with Dean and Jessie need a bit of a volume boost to best appreciate the performances. Hockey and team endeavors are louder, reaching the limited potential of the track. Dialogue exchanges aren't wiped away, with emotional spurts and expositional efforts handled with adequate definition. Scoring, which favors a lighter push of synth, supports as needed, offering greater presence during hockey games. Sound effects deliver charging skates, snappy shots, and punches without muddiness.

Youngblood Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Peter Markle.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:25, HD) is included.

Youngblood Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Youngblood" does many of the underdog sports film moves, pairing Dean with Kelly for some farmland strength training, positioning the character for a proper comeback after suffering a critical defeat. It's formulaic but it works, especially when Markle uses the stoic, disapproving father in a unique way, adding some surprise to a picture that's not terribly interested in innovation. There's a Big Game showdown, but, amusingly, scoring goals is not the final destination for Dean or the screenplay, with the production staying true to down-and-dirty hockey rules played in musty rural arenas. "Youngblood" is not "Slap Shot," but there are more positives than negatives to be found here, including Lowe's commitment to the part, working to move past his pretty boy branding to become a hockey gladiator. Perhaps it's not the most realistic casting, but Lowe manages to sell his toughness well, supported by the director's clear fondness for the violent appetites of the sport.