Chicks with Sticks (2004)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Kari Skogland

Writer:

Don Truckey (writer)

Release Date:

25 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The Puck Stops Here.

Plot:

The story takes the battle of the sexes into the hockey arena, as Paula Taymore - who almost once made the Olympic team...

Plot Keywords:

Hockey | Battle Of The Sexes | Homeless Woman | Sexism | Jock Strap

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jessalyn Gilsig	...	Paula Taymore
Peter Outerbridge	...	Curt Bonner
Juliette Marquis	...	Felicity Carelli
Michie Mee	...	Heather Desmond
Tanya Allen	...	Kate Willings
Beverley Mahood	...	Singer at dance
Jason Priestley	...	Steve Cooper
Margot Kidder	...	Edith Taymore
Andrew Chalmers	...	Stewart Taymore
Pascale Hutton	...	Charlene Manski
Kevin James	...	Ross Taymore (as Kevin Kruchkywich)
Brad Turner	...	Vic Duguay
Kurtis Sanheim	...	Jimmy
Andrew Krivanek	...	Dale
Shaun Johnston	...	Luke

Also Known As:

Anyone's Game (Canada: English title) (video title)
Enjeux sur glace (Canada: French title)
Hockey Mom (International: English title) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:99 min (Ontario) | USA:86 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Earth to Sky Pictures

Soundtrack:

GIRL ON A... MISSION

Equal rights answer to "Men With Brooms".

The title suggests that this movie is the sister companion to the Curling epic "Men With Brooms" and, indeed, it has many similarities: they are both set in small town Canada; their plot involves local sports heroes with one last chance at athletic victory and everlasting pride; they both star Peter Outerbridge. For some reason, Outerbridge is not even mentioned in the IMDb credits to "Chicks With Sticks", perhaps so viewers won't clue in to the similarities. All this aside, this movie has much to distinguish it to similar themed films like "Paperback Hero" or even "Slapshot". They even pay homage to the name "Chiefs" from the Paul Newman classics. Their female rivals have a very witty name considering they are trying to destroy their all-male team: they are called the Black Widows. The movie seems to be a labour of love for many of its hockey loving cast: singer Beverly Mahood, actress Margot Kidder, and actor Jason Priestley. It also includes Canada's star rapper Meechie Mee, who many will recognize from CBC's "Smart Ask" game show in 2003. Her scenes as the hip-hop playing DJ who gets Hutterite girls to shake their booty are what give this movie flavour, both local and visual. Many hockey fans will have missed the film's television premier as it aired at the same time as Calgary Flames first home game in the 2004 Stanley Cup finals. I was astute enough to have the VCR rolling. For those less fortunate, keep your eyes open for the next time it airs. "Chicks With Sticks" scores a winning goal for hockey lovers and movie lovers too.