Mystery, Alaska (1999)

Imagine if David Kelley, the TV writer/producer who has brought us "Picket Fences," "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" among other TV shows, wrote an episode of "Northern Exposure" that had hockey as a theme. That's the best way to describe "Mystery, Alaska." Well, it also has elements of all those 70's sports films, like the ones Burt Reynolds was in, "The Longest Yard" and "Semi-Tough." And it also has elements of teen films like "Lucas" and "American Pie." And let's not forget it's main ingredient, hockey, so prevalent in films from "The Mighty Ducks" to "Slapshot." But mainly it's a Kelley product.

The all star cast includes Reynolds, by the way, as the town judge, a stoic man like Ray Walston in "Picket Fences." Then there's Russell Crowe, the town sheriff, kinda like Tom Skerritt in "Picket Fences." There's the town lawyer, and storekeeper, and teenagers and Eskimo Indians. A lot of this film seems familiar. But it really doesn't matter. It's a damn fine film with great characters and a good story and an awesome moral lesson or two as well. I loved this film, even if it centers on hockey, a sport I could personally care less about.

I don't think hockey fans will be particularly enthralled with the film though. While it does have several scenes of the sport, a little too well executed, this is about as far from a sports film as I can imagine. Or maybe I should say it is Kelley trying to bring the sports film into the 90's. Which begs me to ask; Who did they make this film for anyway? I guess it's for those same Neilsen families who love more intelligent TV fare like Kelley's shows but also like hockey as well.

Now, I don't mean any of this to demean the film. It's great. The acting and the characters are above reproach, even if they are, well, very Kelley-esque. Kelley's work has seldom been less than top-notch and this film is no exception. The script, the plot, the dialogue, again, top of the line. It is hard to find a flaw in the film. But who is going to plunk down 7 bucks to see it? Running about 2 hours, the film goes by quickly. Director Jay Roach ("Austin Powers") finds his niche by allowing the characters, story and scenery to simply appear. A little too much like a TV-movie perhaps, but a good TV movie. Quality but not overly cinematic or dramatic. And the film has an ending that is beautiful. Sure, we've seen it before, but that's okay. The dang thing has spirit, as Carter Burwell's overly "Native American" score will consistently remind you. The question now seems to be, after Buena Vista left the film for months on the shelf, constantly pushing back it's release date, will "Mystery, Alaska" find an audience? Or will there be something just as good for free on TV on that night? Like a real hockey game - or the season premier of "The Practice."

Notes: Also with Judith Ivey, Hank Azaria, Lolita Davidovich, Ron Eldard, Colm Meaney, Ryan Northcott, Little Richard, Michael McKean, and a major film star in an uncredited cameo role.

Co-scripted by Sean O'Byrne.

Filmed in Canada.

The film was known as "Disney's Hockey Project" and "Pond Rules" during production.

Report Card

Script: A

Acting: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: B

Special Effects\Make Up: A+

Music: D+

Final Grade: A