LES BOYS (1996)

This hockey comedy is a true phenomenon. Les Boys captured the hearts of Canadian audiences with its rowdy humour, down-to-earth characterizations and appealing plot. Stan (Girard), the very likeable tavern owner and hockey coach, allows himself to run up a huge gambling debt to Meo (Lebeau), the local Mob boss. Even Meo likes the easygoing owner of the self-named, blue-collar tavern Chez Stan, so he offers him a deal. If his team, Les Boys, can defeat Meo's band of thugs at a game of hockey, the tavern remains his. If not, the out-of-shape group of hockey enthusiasts, are highly motivated to win the game. "Surprisingly effective French Canadian amateur hockey farce has a ragtag bunch of players facing off against a superior team... Followed by three sequels - those Canadians love a good hockey movie!" - Christopher Null, FilmCritic.com