Slap Shot Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A washed-up hockey team resorts to cartoonish violence and general mayhem to stay afloat, discovering that sometimes, the only way to win is to lose all sense of decency, morality, and the rules of the game, but with a happy ending for everyone!

🍿 Slap Shot: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Charlestown Chiefs’ Losing Streak

The Charlestown Chiefs, a minor league hockey team in a struggling Rust Belt town, are perennial losers facing dwindling attendance. Player-coach Reggie Dunlop desperately seeks ways to revive the team and secure their future, especially with rumors swirling about the local mill closing and the team folding. The owner tasks manager Joe McGrath with cheesy publicity stunts, much to the players’ dismay.

The Hanson Brothers and “Goon” Hockey

Reggie stumbles upon a controversial solution: embracing aggressive and violent play, spearheaded by the newly acquired Hanson Brothers. These bespectacled, childlike yet menacing players excel at fighting, sparking renewed interest in the team from the town’s working-class fans. The Chiefs’ games become spectacles of mayhem, driving up attendance and fueling the rumor of a team sale to Florida.

Ned Braden’s Discontent and Moral Conflict

Not everyone embraces the Chiefs’ new style. Ned Braden, a college-educated player who plays for the love of the game, clashes with Reggie over the increasing violence. Ned’s wife, Lily, despises Charlestown and the hockey wife lifestyle, adding to the tension. Reggie’s single-minded focus on winning and selling the team creates friction within the team and strains his own personal relationships.

Reggie’s Deception Unveiled

Reggie finally meets the team’s owner and uncovers her true intentions: to fold the team for a tax write-off, shattering his hopes of a lucrative sale. Disillusioned, he realizes the true impact of his actions and the exploitation of his players and fans. This revelation forces him to confront the ethical implications of his win-at-all-costs approach.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman): The aging player-coach of the Charlestown Chiefs who resorts to violent tactics to save the team.
• Ned Braden (Michael Ontkean): The skilled, college-educated player for the Chiefs who struggles with the team’s descent into violence.
• Jeff Hanson (Jeff Carlson): One of the Hanson Brothers, known for their childlike demeanor and brutal fighting skills.
• Steve Hanson (Steve Carlson): One of the Hanson Brothers, known for their childlike demeanor and brutal fighting skills.
• Jack Hanson (David Hanson): One of the Hanson Brothers, known for their childlike demeanor and brutal fighting skills.
• Joe McGrath (Strother Martin): The manager of the Charlestown Chiefs, pressured to come up with publicity stunts.
• Francine (Jennifer Warren): Reggie Dunlop’s estranged wife who struggles with his career choices.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Reggie Dunlop: “I’m telling you, this is professional hockey!” – Reggie shouts to his team to justify their increasingly violent playstyle.
• Hanson Brothers: “Putting on the foil.” – The Hanson Brothers explain why they are wrapping their hands in aluminum foil before a game.
• Reggie Dunlop: “They’re gonna fold! This is our last chance! Now you guys go out there and give 100%. I want you to hit somebody, I want you to draw a penalty, I want you to get in a fight!” – Reggie is trying to motivate his team by encouraging them to get violent so they can be sold.
• Denis Lemieux: “I drop the puck, I go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by myself, you know?” – Denis struggles to explain the rules of hockey to a bewildered interviewer.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $28,000,000
• Worldwide Gross: $28,000,000

💥 Slap Shot Reviews

Personal Review

Slap Shot is pure, unadulterated hockey mayhem, and I love every second of it. The Hanson Brothers are legendary, and Paul Newman is hilarious as Reggie Dunlop. The striptease scene at the end still makes me laugh, and its something you can watch over and over again. It is the perfect blend of comedy and hockey action.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of sports comedies”
  • “Hockey enthusiasts”
  • “Those who appreciate dark humor”
  • “Viewers interested in 1970s Americana”
  • “Fans of Paul Newman”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Adult situations”
  • “Homophobic slurs”

Professional Reviews

• ScreenRant: “Slap Shot’s gritty style can be seen in later sporting films like ‘Bull Durham’ and ‘Major League’. The film really shines as a straight comedy, delivering some classic characters and set pieces.
• IMDb User Review: “I remember the first time I saw SLAP SHOT; I laughed so hard that I thought I was going to puke. It is so true to life and accurate, moreso than any other sports related movie out there.
• IMDb User Review: “Slap Shot is truly the greatest sports film of all time. It took a serious issue, such as violence in hockey and showed exactly what it did to the sport.

Audience Reactions

The Hanson Brothers steal every scene with their chaotic and unpredictable behavior.: Viewers consistently praise the film’s humor, the quotable lines, and its raw depiction of minor league hockey.

Overall Consensus: A cult classic that’s revered for its raunchy humor, memorable characters, and authentic portrayal of minor league hockey, though some find its style dated.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Nancy Dowd, the screenwriter, based the story on her brother Ned Dowd’s experiences playing minor league hockey.”
• “Many of the players in the movie were actual former or current minor league hockey players, adding to the film’s authenticity.”
• “Paul Newman reportedly considered this his personal favorite of all the films he starred in.”

🖥️ How to Watch Slap Shot?

Slap Shot is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube. Check your local listings for cable availability. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD are also widely available for purchase, offering high-definition viewing and bonus features.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Slap Shot, you might like these similar films:

• The Longest Yard (1974): Features a ragtag team turning to unconventional and violent tactics to achieve success.
• Major League (1989): Shares the underdog sports team theme with humor and memorable characters.
• Goon (2011): A modern hockey comedy focusing on the enforcer role, with similar violent and humorous elements.
• The Bad News Bears (1976): Exploits the humor of underdog sports teams from the same era.

🛒 Slap Shot Related Products

• Slap Shot (Blu-ray): The definitive Blu-ray edition of the cult classic, featuring restored picture and sound, plus bonus content.
• Slap Shot: The Illustrated Movie Script: A unique edition of the Slap Shot script featuring photos and behind-the-scenes stories.
• Hanson Brothers T-Shirt: Show your love for the iconic Hanson Brothers with this classic T-shirt.
• Slap Shot Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original Slap Shot movie poster.

🎧 Soundtrack

Slap Shot features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Right Back Where We Started From” – performed by Maxine Nightingale

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Slap Shot Movie Tour with Steve Carlson! – Visit Johnstown, PA

Ever wondered where they filmed Slap Shot? Check out this tour with Steve Carlson (one of the Hanson Brothers!) and see the real-life locations. I never knew the movie was filmed in Johnstown, PA!

Pawn Stars: SLAPSHOT Deal for Paul Newman Hockey Stick (Season 21)

Did you know they appraised a Paul Newman-signed hockey stick from Slap Shot on Pawn Stars?! It’s so cool to see how much movie memorabilia like that is actually worth. You won’t believe the backstory!

SLAP SHOT Bulldogs lineup / DennyPratt explained

Ever get confused about all the players in the Bulldogs lineup? This video breaks it down, and it’s amazing how much detail went into even minor characters. The creator even named his username after a line from the movie!

✨ Rate