"The Program" Lives on as a Cheesy Sports Melodrama

A few weeks back I wrote a piece about my love of 90's sports movies, mainly kids sports movies. I was a kid back then, I love sports and these were right in my wheelhouse. I mentioned a bunch of movies I loved from that era, but most of them were comedic in nature. I do like a bunch of dramatic sports movies as well, but comedy is always my go to option.

For date night this past week it was my choice to pick the movie. Since I am in this rewatch era of old sports movies I loved, I stayed on that trend, picking "The Program". My wife asked me what it was about and I told her it comes off as a hard drama about the ills of running a college football team. She made a face, but I told her it is funny how melodramatic the movie comes off. That perked her up and we proceeded to watch.

I want to say, right off the bat, this movie still rules. I loved every second of it. It felt as good to watch it as a 40 year old as it did when it came out when I was 12 years old. I also realized that I shouldn't have been watching this movie when I was 12, but I turned out just fine. But what makes this movie so rewatchable, what I still love about it to this day, is the melodrama. This movie takes itself far too seriously. There are so many scenes that end in fights, or realizations, or finding one self, or having to deal with consequences. I swear, the ending of almost every scene has one of these cliches tacked on. A guy on the team takes steroids and his team chastises him for it, but they don't kick him off. He then sexually assaults a coed on campus, and they only suspend him. It isn't until the second time he is caught with steroids do they kick him off the team, but only after he makes a season saving tackle. That is absurd. One of the only decent people in the movie gets all of his glory taken away from him due to a clean block that destroys his leg. Alvin Mack had everything in front of him, he was going to make millions in the NFL, but then his leg got obliterated by a pulling guard who he was shit talking. Then they pan to his house and I swear to you his family lives in the 1800's. That was totally unnecessary and undeserving. But when you watch "The Program", that is almost expected. The tutor, played by Halle Berry, is in a love triangle with the vet running back and the hot shot running back recruit. And she gets everyone involved in this triangle. And the resolution is laugh out loud funny. The QB, who also happens to be a Heisman candidate, is a drunk. He also likes to say he "lives life on the edge". He rides a motorcycle and goes to rehab. He gets a girlfriend and treats her like dirt. But not to worry, she is still completely into him. I also appreciate that he cannot beat Michigan in this movie. But this QB's story might be the most melodramatic thing I've ever seen in a sports movie. It is wild. The coach's daughter sleeps with the backup QB and takes his tests. The coach finds out and is pissed, but when his star QB goes to rehab, again, hilarious, the coach has to vouch for this backup in front of the school board. That scene is meant to be serious, but I can't help but to laugh every time I see it. I mean I could go on and on and on.

This movie is so of its time. From the fashion to the choice of actors to the dialogue, it has the early 90's all over it. James Caan gives it his all, but he cannot save this movie from the melodrama. Halle Berry is the best part, outside of the football action, but she has horrible dialogue to work with, and I feel like the director just let her do her own thing. Look, I love this movie. I will watch it a bunch more. I found it incredibly watchable on this go round. But it has so many faults, mainly the melodrama.

I highly recommend you all check it out. It will take you back and make you laugh. "The Program", for being a sports drama, is hilarious and kind of stupid. And that is why I adore this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum"

I was going to do a thing on “Game of Thrones” today, but I need to save that for Monday. I need to save it because I went to see “John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum” with my dad this morning, and I need to talk about it.

I have been a big time fan from the start of this franchise. I’m so much more in on “John Wick” than I am on other series of movies. I’ll take “John Wick” over any “Fast and Furious” movie, I’ll watch it over “Star Wars”, I’d spend my time with it over “Jurassic Park”, I’ll even take it over the “Raid” movies. This is my new favorite franchise in movies. It is so perfect. “John Wick” knows what it is, and they absolutely go for it all the time. “Parabellum” was no different.

This movie picks up exactly where the second movie ended. Wick is on the run in downtown NYC. He has pretty much every assassin in the city after him. He has a multi million dollar bounty for his head. He is no longer safe. And from there on out, for the next 130 minutes, it’s pretty much all action. The fight scenes in this movie are astonishing. I read someone earlier this week call it a “gory ballet”, and they were 100 percent correct. I was taken aback at how well done and brilliant these scenes were. The movie was also filled with them. Sure, there’s a story attached, and they spend a little time telling it. But, for every minute or 2 of dialogue, there’s a 4 or 5 minute action scene that follows. It was exquisite. I have loved how the writers and directors have upped the ante with each movie. They have the budget now to go absolutely wild. It’s awesome.

As far as the acting, it’s perfect for this style movie. Keanu Reeves is Wick, and he barely has to say anything, which is perfect for him. He says a few things here and there, but he’s mostly there to whoop bad guys. Angelica Houston was chewing so much scenery in the best possible way in this movie. She was excellent. Laurence Fishburne knows what kind of movie this is, and he does his role magnificently. Ian McShane and Lance Reddick are dapper and badass. Halle Berry tried a little too hard, taking it a bit too seriously, but her action scenes, and dogs, ruled. Asia Kate Dillon was a menacing villain. I knew she was crushing it when I hoped she would be taken down by Wick at some point in the movie. Mark Dacascos, you may know him as the chairmen from “Iron Chef America”, was a great bad guy, and he was pretty funny. Jason Mantzoukas had one or 2 lines, but they were memorable, and his expressions were wonderful. Even actors in very small roles, be it Jerome Flynn or Said Taghmaoui, did a really campy, really good job.

“Parabellum” is the third of a very, very solid action franchise. I love that these movies come out every other summer because I get so hyped to see them on opening day in late May. This movie rules, and I hope they will continue to keep making them as long as they keep having fun. Go see this movie, it will most likely be the best action movie you will see all summer long. What a great movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Much like the character of John Wick, Ty’s true passion is restoring old books.

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