Youngblood, released in theaters on Jan. 31, 1986, is a glorious relic of the 1980s, complete with mullets, power ballads, and enough melodrama to fill a penalty box. While it might not be a cinematic masterpiece, it delivers exactly what you expect from a classic 80s sports flick.
Rob Lowe, fresh off his Brat Pack fame, stars as Dean Youngblood, a hotshot hockey player with a chip on his shoulder and a heart of gold (naturally). He joins the Hamilton Mustangs, a minor league team, where he learns valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and the true meaning of the game.
Along the way, he befriends a veteran player, Derek Sutton (Patrick Swayze), and finds romance with the coach’s daughter, Jessie (Cynthia Gibb).
Youngblood embraces its clichés with open arms, delivering a healthy dose of nostalgia and feel-good vibes. The hockey scenes, while not exactly realistic by today’s standards, are exciting and energetic and you can practically feel the ice spray and hear the roar of the crowd.
Lowe and Swayze have great on-screen chemistry and Gibb provides a sweet and supportive presence as the love interest.
Rob Lowe and Patrcik Swayze in Youngblood (Photo/MGM)
Keep an eye out for a young Keanu Reeves as the Mustangs’ goalie in an early role.
Veteran character actor Ed Lauter, as the stern but fair coach, provides a solid performance as the voice of reason.
Jim Youngs (Footloose) plays Kelly Youngblood, Dean’s older brother, who teaches him how to be a real hockey player instead of just an offensive talent.
Reception for Youngblood
Youngblood grossed $4.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing in fourth place behind Down & Out in Beverly Hills ($5.7 million) starring Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss, The Color Purple ($4.2 million) starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, and Murphy’s Romance ($4.1 million) starring Sally Field, James Garner and Corey Haim.
The film would gross $15.4 million in its theatrical run on its way to becoming a cult classic.
Roger Ebert gave the film two out of four stars in his review, saying “Youngblood is not a bad movie, and indeed has moments of real conviction. But it is doomed by its plot, which is yet another example of what I like to call the Climb from Despair to Victory.”
Legacy
If you’re looking for a fun, nostalgic trip back to the 80s, complete with big hair, even bigger shoulder pads, and a healthy dose of hockey action, then Youngblood is definitely worth a watch. It’s a guilty pleasure, pure and simple, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
