CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Wuchak "Second String" is a TNT production released in 2002. Some criticize it as a low-budget variation of 2000's "The Replacements." The story revolves around the Buffalo Bills who hire a star college player who never made it in the pros to help in practice. Dan Heller (Gil Bellows) takes the job because he needs the money and is pressured by his wife (Tori Polo). When the starting line-up of the offense suffers food poisoning, Dan and the other second stringers have to step up and prove themselves.Since this is a TV production, you can't expect the spit and polish of films like 1999's "Varsity Blues." Speaking of which, Jon Voight played the coach in that one too. He's essentially the same character in "Second String," except he's coaching for the NFL and not a high school team, not to mention he's a few notches less malevolent. In any event, Voight more than has the gravitas to pull off the stubborn, pushy coach.Bellows is great as the every-day guy protagonist and Polo shines as his wife. The rest of the cast is good and, despite the low budget, you can tell thought and effort was put into the story and filmmaking, but because of its limitations it's only moderately amusing and fails to achieve the greatness of "Varsity Blues." I was a little let down with the women considering the resources at their disposal; Polo, for instance, is underutilized.Where this movie soars is the underlying message. Heller is thrust into a bound-to-lose situation and must rise to the challenge. As the quarterback, he has to take the reins of leadership and corral the troops, even if they don't want to be corralled or don't think they can win. Heller's humble, but forceful approach to leadership is contrasted with a hireling star quarterback that the coach signs-up for the playoffs, Tommy Baker (George Eads), who thinks he can unite the team and lead them to victory on bluster and bloviating alone.The film runs 100 minutes and was shot in Toronto, Hamilton and Woodbridge, Ontario.GRADE: B

Blockbuster_Employee We just got "Second String" on video today, and I always the sucker for underdog movies, and after reading the synopsis on the box, decided to check it out. I was rather impressed by this small release (we only got two copies in). Now, I too, got the whole "Replacements-wannabe" vibe that several of the other reviewers may have had. However, I really got into this one a lot more. I thought it had a much better, and more importantly, believable story to it than the "Replacements" did. I thought Voight did a much better job than Hackman ever did as the old coach. Bellows was great as the QB, and since his 5-year stint on TV, its great to see he's making a comeback. I particularly liked when Bellows helped out his teammates with their physical and mental aspects of their game. While other movies have done this several times over, "Second String" doesn't have that corny feeling that is left over for the viewer to digest. Instead, it adds a little humor into it. I chuckled a few times as the players were counting up how much their running-back would pay up for the Superbowl party everytime he dropped the football. If you manage to find this treasure somewhere in the back of our store and are trying to avoid some of the more recent blockbusters that have been released, try giving it a chance. I'm sure you'll be quite impressed.

IamWilliamBlake Craptastic! This movie is as wonderfully predictable as it is cheesy. Primarily because the characters are fairly enjoyable. Set your expectations low and you will not be disappointed.This is not a rip-off of "The Replacements" it is far superior. Instead of watching a bunch scabs, (the lowest life form on the planet-read Jack London's definition of a scab), the audience is treated to a much more inventive, though highly improbable, reason as to why the the starting squad is not available to play football. The story takes you away with groans and yeah rights. Chances are you will laugh out loud at the contrivances and trickery.On an added note of actual production value. The cinematography is actually pretty awesome during the game play, especially since the budget was far less than an actual feature film.Not worth renting, not worth planning to watch, but definitely worth your time. I would have much rather seen this whilst trapped on a plane than The Replacements.

DumontFan In the year 2000 (keep in mind, this is two years ago, not four), two men had the motivation to create the most miraculous piece of art on this side of the Mississippi.Thanks to Jere Cunningham and Tom Flynn, the world can now enjoy Second String, a delicious TV movie depicting a tale of a rag-tag gang of second stringers (thus the title) who are thrust into the position of starters due to an order of bad oysters.Because of the motivational direction of both the director Robert Lieberman and the Buffalo Bills' last minute QB, Dan "Give 'em hell" Heller (portrayed by Canadian actor, Gil Bellows) the oft Super Bowl snake-bitten Bills find themselves in the ultimate position.With an intriguing mix of internal and external conflict, a love story, comraderie that only the fine sport of football can bring, and an overall theory that the underdog can compete, Second String is an excellent movie worthy of viewing every possible moment that it appears on TNT.The only thing potentially bad about this production is the spelling of the Costume Designer's first name, Jenifur Jarvis.