Mystery, Alaska (DVD, 2000)

This was a delightful look at small towns and sports, in a nutshell. Mystery Alaska is a village that takes its hockey very seriously, with the team composed only of village members. A mention of their prowess gets a pro hockey team, the legendary New York Rangers, stirred up enough to throw down a challenge and the race is on to prepare for the biggest game in Mystery's history! Russell Crowe gives a terrific performance as the recently demoted captain, and the rest of the cast shine through as well in the offbeat, eccentric, and quirky personalities of Mystery's population. You don't even have to love hockey to enjoy this movie (which I know, as I know about as little as a person possibly can about the sport). The ending is not the typical ending in a movie of this formula, but I don't want to spoil it, just to report that is was a refreshing change. A comic bit of fluff, worthy of renting but not strong enough to definitely warrant a purchase.