Slap Shot: 25th Anniversary Special Edition

A video rite of passage for anyone who’s ever donned a pair of breezers and nearly had his or her teeth knocked out of his or her head, Slap Shot is to the sports comedy what The English Patient is to the teary wartime epic. You’ll find more than a few non-hockey-buffs who’ll vouch for the 1977 film’s classic status, but its vulgar one-liners, ruthless body-checking, bared butt cheeks, and bespectacled Hanson brothers are best appreciated by those who’ve actually braved the ice. Paul Newman’s performance as a last-gasp hockey coach charged with a team of hard-hitting misfits may not be his most nuanced, but ask yourself: How often do you find yourself quoting lines from Absence of Malice in the wistful company of half-drunk buddies? By releasing Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice—a poorly conceived, straight-to-video sequel starring Stephen Baldwin and Gary Busey—to coincide with this reissue, Universal taints what might otherwise be considered the year’s most triumphant non-Olympic hockey moment. Here’s an audio commentary track by the Hansons themselves and a restored soundtrack featuring Elton John and other giants of 70s dementia.


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