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Mystery, Alaska
Buena Vista Pictures


8.6

based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 13 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: R for language and sexuality

Starring Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, Mary McCormack, Burt Reynolds, Colm Meaney, Lolita Davidovich, Maury Chaykin, and Ron Eldard

A publicity stunt turns into the ultimate lopsided competition when the world-famous New York Rangers face off against the team from Mystery, Alaska, a hockey-loving town of only 633 people. (Hollywood Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	David E. Kelley Sean O'Byrne
DIRECTED BY:	M. Jay Roach
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: May 9, 2000 Video: May 9, 2000 Theatrical: October 1, 1999
RUNNING TIME:	118 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA / Canada

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Portland Oregonian Diana Abu-Jaber

The humor sizzles.

Film.com Tom Keogh

Drama, swift action, and low-key, character-driven comedy.

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

Scores big as a study of small-town life where characters collide and are forced to get along for the good of the community.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Does offer solid laughs, engaging performances and a captivating setting.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

An upbeat meat-and-potatoes movie.

Film.com Sean Means

Raucously funny.

Dallas Observer Bill Gallo

Its loose-limbed sweetness and gruff irreverence are just right.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

Individual performances...are flavorful and simpatico.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Unwaveringly predictable.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Could metamorphose into an entertaining sitcom.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak

Disney seems intent upon overdosing audiences with the little guy proving himself against a seemingly superior force.

Variety Robert Koehler

Relies on ensemble allure, with mixed results.

Chicago Tribune John Petrakis

Has the potential to be much more than it is, especially with the collection of able actors on hand.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

It is Australian Crowe, a previous non-skater, who gives the film's standout performance.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The enterprise might also be called ''Picket Fences on Ice."

Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan

Yet another Hollywood serving of everyman pluck, sports division.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Some terrific characters and some of the year's punchiest comic dialogue.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Nothing's wrong with this movie--the hockey footage is exciting, the characters quirky, the subplots idiosyncratic--but nothing's special about it either.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

If you drop the "c" in hockey you get a perfect description of Mystery, Alaska.

Salon.com Chris Colin

There's no buildup, just emotional peak after emotional peak.

Film.com John Hartl

Crowe gives the kind of thoughtful performance that suggests what Mystery, Alaska could have been if it had stayed in focus.

San Francisco Examiner Edvins Beitiks

Not as predictable as the rest of its ilk.

Village Voice Jessica Winter

Slack, saccharine script.

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

Thoroughly mediocre.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

There are people who eat this kind of thing right up -- if you're one of them, dig in.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

We know the story will conclude with a crescendo of frozen-north hallelujahs. Cheering is endemic to Disney. They can't help themselves.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

The bottom line with the film is that there's just no damn mystery about it.

Mr. Showbiz Cody Clark

Has its share of small pleasures.

Miami Herald Curtis Morgan

Humdrum hybrid of stale sitcom characters and creaky sports cliches.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

dave i. gave it a9:
You will love this movie if you are a hockey fan. Yes it is a bit predictable But I still rate it above 95% of sports movies.

Myles #13 gave it a7:
A Disney movie that somehow both exceeds and falls below expectations... the idea is kind of a neat original thought, but the execution falls a bit short. Action scenes are VERY quick, and believe me; you will grow to HATE some of the characters (even if you're not meant to). That said, it is a neat little hockey flick and worth a view or two.

Ray S. gave it a9:
Very entertaining movie filled with quirky humor, stars like Crowe, Burt Reynolds, and others. With some minor changes, this movie could have been rated PG and aimed at families, with positive results. My kids loved it, but I had to fast forward through a few areas. Since it came from Disney, I don't understand their reasoning. Anyway, well worth the 2 hours. Enjoy.

Rick M. gave it a9:
If you love hockey, you have to see this. It's kinda disney-ish with it's unrealistic story but with adult oriented humor. I enjoyed it.

Philip S. gave it a10:
The best film ever...!

Alec S. gave it a2:
A one trick pony of a film padded out to feature length. The weak attempts at character developement and fleshing out the "plot" make this a film too boring to even make fun of.

Mystery, Alaska Buena Vista Pictures

Mystery, Alaska
Buena Vista Pictures