Varsity Blues
In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion. The head coach is deified, as long as the team…
- Director:Brian Robbins
- Genre:Comedy / Drama / Sport
- Runtime:105 minutes
Cast
James Van Der Beek: Jonathon ‘Mox’ Moxon
Amy Smart : Jules Harbor
Jon Voight : Coach Bud Kilmer
Paul Walker : Lance Harbor
Ron Lester : Billy Bob
Jonathan “Mox” Moxon (James Van Der Beek) is an academically gifted back-up quarterback for the West Canaan High School football team. Despite his relative popularity at school, easy friendships with several other players, and smart and sassy girlfriend Jules Harbor (Amy Smart), Mox is dissatisfied with his life. He wants to leave Texas to go to school at Brown University. He also dislikes his football-obsessed father and dreads playing football under legendary coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight). Bud Kilmer is a verbally abusive control freak whose philosophy can be summed up as “win at all costs.” He has a strong track record as coach, remarking in a speech that “in my thirty years of coaching football at West Caanan, I have brought two state titles, and 22 district championships!” Kilmer’s philosophy finally takes its toll on Coyotes’ quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker). It is revealed that Lance, who is Mox’s best friend, had been manipulated into taking cortisone shots into an injured knee that finally gave out on a huge sack. Lance is rushed to the hospital, where doctors are appalled at the massive amount of scar tissue found under his knee.
Mox, who has accompanied Lance to the hospital, is shocked when Kilmer tells the doctor that he knew nothing at all about Lance’s knee problems, when in fact Kilmer ordered the trainer to inject the shots.
In need of a new quarterback, Kilmer reluctantly names Mox to replace Lance as captain and starting quarterback. The move brings unexpected dividends for Mox, one of them being Darcy Sears (Ali Larter), Lance’s beautiful blonde cheerleader girlfriend, who is interested in marrying a football player in order to escape small town life. Darcy even goes so far as to attempt to seduce Moxon, sporting a bikini made of whipped cream over her otherwise naked body, but he rebuffs her as gently as he can.
Becoming fed up with Kilmer and not feeling a strong need to win, Mox starts calling his own plays on the field without Kilmer’s approval. He also finally tells his football obsessed father off at one point screaming at him “I don’t want your life!” Moxon’s father had been a football player at West Caanan, and although Kilmer dismissed him as a “no talent pussy” he did say that he at least listened (unlike Moxon). Kilmer, who becomes aware that Mox has won a full scholarship to Brown, warns Mox that if he doesn’t fall in line, he will alter his transcripts in order to reverse the decision on his scholarship. Read more
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