Most sporting films follow a similar pattern, retired or has been star who was once the crowning glory in his or her heyday comes back to coach/play in a team of no hopers seemingly stuck in the doldrums.
They then recover to make the championship game which normally uses some slow motion action shots to capture the glorious final moment, queue the music and joyous rapture. Of course there are other sporting come backs that don’t quite follow this script but are brilliant nonetheless.
So here below are the 8 best sporting comebacks in film.
8# Happy Gilmore (1996) - An Adam Sandler classic about a fun loving guy with a short temper, not good enough to make it as a hockey player his love for his Grandma and his ability to hit a 400 yard drive temp him to enter the world of golf. If anything to get enough money to save his Grandma’s house.
Mentored by former pro Chubbs (Carl Weathers) Happy learns to control his temper, tune his putting by way of crazy golf (that comes in handy later) in the hope that he can win the coveted gold jacket. The film is light hearted enough and an enjoyable watch. With a predictable ending this is one comeback fans of Sandler should watch out for!
7# Teen Wolf (1985) - Michael J Fox’s Scott Howard is having problems, whether it is women, controlling his over sexed in need of booze friends or trying to get into the school play. The film is set against the back drop of a high school basketball teams unsuccessful run of form, a team of under achievers who dream of at least winning a game.
However, the transformation of Scott into a werewolf sends hype around the school, and wouldn’t you know it the team start winning. Of course it goes a bit wrong during the championship game in which Scott decides to play as himself and not ‘wolf’. Giving a rousing speech mid way through the match the team group together for one last push (spoiler alert) and end up winning on the final shot, set of course in slow motion!
6# Rocky IV (1985) – I could have listed the entire Rocky franchise as a great comeback but managed to whittle it down to one film. In the end it was the fourth installment that got the nod, mainly as it contains some of the best film montages! Rocky seemingly scared to get into the ring after the death of his friend Apollo Creed to the Russian giant Ivan Drago goes on a personal self discovery mission.
It takes him into the heart of the Russian mountains where he undergoes a rigorous training regime which entails lifting heavy logs, running through snow, lifting a horse and cart and running to the top of a huge mountain. He goes into the ring, knocks out Drago and wins over the hostile Russian crowd. What is not to love about that!
5# The Mighty Ducks (1992) - Ice Hockey, not a sport portrayed all that much in film, but this one comes with another slow motion moment at the end. Lawyer Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) is another one of the sports almost gifted players, but a man who always goes for the win. As punishment for drink driving he must take charge of a bunch of kids.
The team are useless beyond all probability, they don’t have the right equipment, they fight amongst each other, and they don’t have much of a clue. And so begins the transformation, as the team get a new look, new name and a few new players. They beat in the final the ‘Manchester United’ of children’s hockey, with a penalty goal after the siren. Any guesses as to how that scene was shot, yep, you got it…slow motion.
4# Tin Cup (1996) – Roy McAvoy is what you might call a washed up golf pro, content with living in a trailer and running a driving range out in the middle of nowhere. Every now and then he pulls back the shaft of a golf club and can at last be at one with himself, and you know what, he’s actually pretty good!
His dream of winning the US Open comes true as he qualifies for the tournament, all the while he’s attempting to woo the girlfriend of his rival. Tin Cup as he is known has a habit of biting if more than he can chew when all that is needed is a simple shot, failing to listen to his faithful but long suffering caddy.
He manages to come through the field to lead with only a few holes remaining, but what comes next must be painful for anyone to watch. As he tries to hit an almost impossible shot over water he sees the ball drop in. Rather than lay up and force a play off he attempts the same shot over and over again. He loses his lead, but sees his last attempt go straight into the hole. Film gold!
3# Days of Thunder (1990) – Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Cole Trickle was one of the highs of the early 90s. A cocky stock car racer he dreams of competing in Nascar and winning the pinnacle race, the Daytona 500. The car he drives is built from the ground up and his mentor Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) is long suffering but has the same dream.
Trickle of course has issues, he’s hot headed and will win at all costs. His rival Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker) is the closest thing he has to a yard stick. The two wind up in a huge crash, both are sent to the sidelines, the two become friends (surprise) Trickle must go back out beat his fears and end up winning the Daytona 500! He does this of course, what more did you expect.
2# Varsity Blues (1999) – This bunch of misfits aren’t bad, in fact they’re quite the opposite they’re good. But they have behind them a sadistic coach played brilliantly by Jon Voight. The kids have to live up to the expectations of their successful fathers who too once graced the high school turf they play on every Friday night.
All they want to do is be kids, party hard, chase women and generally play football. They don’t care too much about winning it’s just the enjoyment. The film is fantastic for all the right reasons, none more so than the well choreographed matches which all culminate in a final match, and a ‘go against the coach’ play, which of course comes off!
1# Victory (1981) – There can be no better sporting come back than one set against the back drop of the Second World War. Not to mention a cast that includes Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Bobby Moore and Pele. A team of allied POWs are set to play a football match against a German national team in Nazi-occupied Paris, the resistance want them to escape during the half time break.
With the Germans controlling the match the POWs have one foot outside the tunnel, when all of a sudden they want to go back out and play. They do, and what results is an enthralling second half with Stallone the star as he saves a last minute penalty (slow motion) thousands crash through the barriers in delight at this, and as such help the team escape right out the front door!
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