Retrospective: Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Jerry Saravia
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Three stars and a half
Sports movies are not my favorite genre, though I have admired movies
like "Rocky," "Raging Bull," "Tin Cup" and "Hoosiers," to name a few.
"Mystery, Alaska" focuses on ice hockey, which is hardly a sport I can
stand watching (and I am partly Canadian), yet it won me over. This is
a dramatic, offbeat kind of comedy-drama that aims high with an
unusual set of characters and an uplifting enough story to rise above
its cliches.
Set in the fictional town of Mystery, Russell Crowe is John Biebe, the
local sheriff who is something of a local hockey hero. Unfortunately,
his hockey team is letting him go and making him coach to make room
for a teenage player with the right stuff. John's ego is hurt but he
goes along with it. His wife, Donna (Mary McCormack), supports him yet
feels his pain. And just in the nick of time comes an announcement
that the NHL is sending the New York Rangers to play an exhibition
game with this Alaskan team. The problem is that the team only plays
on Saturdays and insist on playing in a black pond of ice! The NHL and
the Rangers see it differently, as does eager promoter Charles Danner
(Hank Azaria), a former Mystery resident who gave the Mystery team
glowing reviews on a Sports Illustrated issue.
"Mystery, Alaska" juggles a few characters around such as Charles
Danners' pining for John's wife; the local attorney (Maury Chaykin)
who deals with a big shot retail owner (Michael McKean, always a
pleasure to see); Burt Reynolds as the local Judge Burns who hates the
game and hates his son for playing it; another hotshot player (Ron
Eldard) who has nothing better to do than to play hockey and have sex,
including having an affair with the mayor's wife (Lolita Davidovich);
and Mystery's mayor (Colm Meaney) who wants nothing more than to
expose their little town to the big hockey leagues.
"Mystery, Alaska" is a charming, inoffensive picture with enough humor
and pathos to make it special. All these actors are some of my
favorites so to see them on screen is a pure delight. Russell Crowe
plays one of the looser characters of his career, not the glum variety
of post-"Gladiator" period, and he has a special chemistry with
McCormack. Also worth noting is Hank Azaria who is so full of life
playing a sports promoter that you are ready to play along with
whatever he pitches. And what a pleasure to see Burt Reynolds at his
understated best, throwing asides with the ease of a real actor who
doesn't have to do much to sell a scene. If he had more colorful roles
like this one, Burt might have really taken recharged career in this
post-"Boogie Nights" period. Only Maury Chaykin's attorney character
leaves something to be desired, and I would've like more screen time
for my favorite Spinal Tap member, but that is just me.
"Mystery, Alaska" waxes on praise and pride for the underdogs, and
resentment and pure vitriol for anything too commercial or mainstream
that intrudes on small-town values. When the big game arrives at the
climax (and I will not dare spoil who the winner is), the town's
residents on the bleachers read the newspapers as the Rangers make
their entrance on the ice. The Mystery residents welcome the chance to
play with a national team and yet detest them at the same time. Same
with the retail chain that almost opens in their town - anything
commercial is outlawed. It's that kind of old-fashioned small-town
movie that may leave you feeling satisfied.
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