WHO REPLACES THE REPLACEMENTS?

Consider your salary. Now multiply it by 100. This is what your average football superstar makes. Now lets say that our friendly football superstar doesn't think he's getting paid enough. What does he do? He goes on strike. This event sets the stage for the movie, The Replacements.

Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman: Crimson Tide, Get Shorty) is a has-been from the eighties given the chance to redeem himself by gathering together a group of men to replace the striking Washington Sentinels. He has his work cut out for him as he gathers together an incredibly diverse team.

Playing quarterback for McGinty's team is Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves: The Matrix, Speed). Falco was a potentially successful player who blew it all during a previous Sugar Bowl.
Earl Wilkinson (Michael Jace: Forest Gump, Boogie Nights) is a prisoner who's temporarily released to play for the Sentinels.
Nigel Gruff (Rhys Ifans: Notting Hill) is a very proud resident of Wales with some bad history with some Latino criminals.
Brian Murphy (David Denman) is a deaf, yet very good tight end.
Jumbo Fumiko (Ace Yonamine) is a Japanese sumo wrestler who decides he can make it big as a football player.
Daniel Bateman (Jon Ravreau: Deep Impact, Swingers) is a cop turned football player. He bull-like charges make him to be the most effective tackler on the team.
Jamal Jockson (Faizon Love: Windel on the show "The Parent Hood") is a tough son of a gun who carries around a gun and gets to use it in the movie.
Andre Jackson (Michael Taliferro: actual professional football experience, Armageddon, Life) is Jamal's brother and together they make quite an intimidating bunch.
Walter Cochran (Troy Winbush: guest star of several shows "Sister, Sister" "The Pretender") is a friendly man dedicated to his Christian faith and bent on trying his best on the field despite being plagued with weak knees.
Lastly there is our main source of comic relief, Clifford Franklin (Orlando Jones: 7-up commercials). Franklin is the essence of cool, in his own mind anyway. His wide-receiver abilities are unmatched. Unless you're older than five years of age.

Now onto the cheerleaders. What would football be without cheerleaders? Annabelle Farrel (Brooke Langton: Swingers) is the head cheerleader. When the football players strike, several cheerleaders do to and she is left with a skeleton crew. Enter the cheerleader replacements. These princess' of pep are not your normal type of girl. They're more familiar dancing with a pole rather than pom poms and this makes for some very interesting displays.

Several problems face Falco and his teammates. One is having to put up with (enter your own derogatory word here) from the striking players. During one instance, Falco's truck is turned on its side by them. Unsurprisingly, a rivalry is started between the two factions. This sort of climaxes in a, where else, but a bar. Pro quarterback Martel (Bret Cullen) insults the deaf Brian Murphy and Falco comes to his defense. This, of course, leads to a bar room brawl, which in turn leads to jail time. This is good, though, because it gives time for Franklin to bring the team together in a stirring rendition of "I Will Survive."

Cameo appearances are made by John Madden and Pat Summerall. I like this movie. It was very cool. It pressed the importance of teamwork, putting forth effort, and self-pride. Another plus is that its not just for men or sports fans. This is something anyone can enjoy. So if your boy/girl friend, wife/husband, son/daughter, mom/dad has been saying you don't spend enough time together, here's your opportunity.

One more thing. First, I was afraid. I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side, but then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong and I grew strong and I learned how to get along and so your back from outer space. I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock. I should have made you leave your keys if I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me. Boy, now go, walk out the door. Let's turn around now. You're not welcome anymore. Aren't you the one that tried to hurt me with goodbyes? You thought I'd crumble. You thought I'd lay down and die. Boy, not I. I will survive. For as long as I know how to love, I know I am alive. I've got all my life to live and all my love to give. I will survive. I will survive. Hey, Hey.