Celtic Pride

This is the single greatest Boston basketball hostage movie of the 1990's. Damon Wayans is reminiscent of a young Poitier in his role of Lewis Scott, a man who was born to play the game. The problem is, two Boston basketball fans do not want to see Scott and his Utah Jazz defeat their beloved Boston Celtics. So they kidnap him. The homosexual chemistry between Daniel Stern and Dan Aykroyd is a delight, as it is rare that Kevin Arnold and Beldar Conehead can live together in eternal bliss. Celtic Pride mixes themes of anti-basketball hostage and gay rights in a march to the finish line in the marathon of film. It's a shame that Daniel Stern did not receive the Oscar for his exquisite role as Mike O'Hara, a homosexual alcoholic father who really only needs his lover (Aykroyd), and the Boston Celtics. Three hurrahs for director Tom DiCerchio!

It's game 6 of the NBA playoffs with the Celtics 3-2 up against the Utah Jazz and seemingly about to win the title on their home court in Boston. Lifelong fans Mike O'Hara and Jimmy Flaherty may have personal problems but these are put in perspective opposite the dream of catching the title. However Utah's best player, Lewis Scott, is carrying the team and responsible for most of their points. When he destroys the Celtics in game 6, things look bleak. Bumping into him in a bar later that night, Mike and Jimmy plan to get him so drunk he'll still he weak in several days time when game 7 is played. However when they wake up beside him the next morning they kidnap him and plan to hold him until after game 7 has passed. However things are harder than they imagined.

Being a basketball fan I'll give anything that involves the game a try, whether it is more serious films like Blue Chips and He Got Game or comedies like this or Eddie. This film had potential and, opening with a funny sequence where Mike fails to pass on his passion to his students, it looked like it was going to be good. The plot is filled out by poking fun at the excessive sports fans and also taking a more serious look from the point of view of the players themselves (as represented by Scott). However, where things fall down a little is in the delivery.

Marketed as a `wacky' comedy of sorts, the film wants to be that (hence the presence of Aykroyd and Stern) but this means that the more interesting side of the film is ignored and allowed to fall into disrepair (before finally collapsing in the final `7 months later' shot). As a comedy it is entertaining without ever being very funny – I didn't laugh out loud very often but I found it passable and light hearted. It never really gets any better than that sadly, but I felt that this lack of consistent laughs could have been covered if the darker side of the fan/player relationship had been brought out more.

Unfortunately this side slides for the whole of the film until nothing of interest is really left. There are imaginative touches that suggest a better film, but overall the lack of an effective dramatic streak to the film (no matter how secondary it would have been) is a problem. Without it the plot seems trivial and makes it harder to hold the audience's interest. This isn't helped by the fact that the film feels quite cheap and quickly put together. This is shown throughout the film but is clearest in it's portrayal of the basketball action. I wasn't expecting them to have the feel of a big stadium or have total realism, but the games are such a joke (in terms the play) that it made me realise how little effort was put into some aspects of the film.

The cast is OK but the names suggest that a more `zany' comedy was expected to be the outcome of this film. Aykroyd plays a lesser role but has some good dream sequences, Stern is left to lead the film and he appears to lack the confidence to do it well. Wayans is the real star here which is a worrying thing. His character is the strongest and also has the most to say as he is not just a comedy figure in the way the other two are. He leads well and is actually OK but his basketball scenes are poor. For He Got Game, Ray Allen coached Washington so he'd look the part, it appears no-one saw the need for that approach here.

Overall this is a wacky comedy with few laughs. Because it seems to favour the `zany' knockabout side of it's nature, it neglects the darker more interesting side and suffers as a result. This film never made it to the cinema in the UK and barely made an impact on video – there are reasons for this.

Two die-hard Boston Celtic fans go out of their way to mess up the star player before game 7 of the Finals, and then accidently kidnap him. Not deep, but it doesn't have to be.

A movie that a good sports fan would find as humorous, but a movie fan would only find forgetable. Akroyd, Stern, and Wayans all turn in entertaining performances, but the true star of the movie is....

Christopher McDonald. He made me laugh my head off with the "Uhhhhhhh I hate my life" line. Akroyd doing the "Shakacon" thing was hillarious, as was his dream.

Overall, it was enjoyable, but proceed with caution.

***+(3.5)/*****(5).

dan aykroyd great as crazed,fanatical celtic fan, teams up with his celtic fan partner daniel stern(of home alone fame). both are crazy,funny, and natural. damon wayans adds to the cast as utah jazz basketball player. street smart comedic wayans(from brooklyn) is just right for the part. deion sanders is great as himself.movie is very entertaining and was underrated. better than the critics said.

"Celtic Pride" is a silly & wacky sports comedy from the 90's & I've always liked this crazy flick & mainly because of the fun pairing of Dan Aykroyd & Daniel Stern.

Daniel Stern is hilarious & a comic great in his own right with films like his City Slickers 1&2 & Home Alone 1&2 under his belt. Stern plays panicked & stressed so well in his films & stole the show doing this in the hilarious & twisted black comedy "Very Bad Things" & here Stern plays a stressed-out school basketball coach who lives for sports but especially Basketball & is an obsessed Celtics fan & is Boston through & through, along with his equally obsessed best pal (Aykroyd) they hatch a plan to kidnap & restrain their opposing teams best player (Damon Wayans) so their Boston team has a chance of winning the game. It's silly, wacky & alot of fun.

Aykroyd & Stern are hilarious as obsessed fans lol & take it all to another level.

NBA antics & goofy humour all the way but always entertaining.

Aykroyd is hilarious as Stern's best pal & they capture NBA star Wayans & keep him at his apartment that is like a mini museum of sports memorabilia & it's Awesome!!!

Now, Dan Aykroyd is one of my most beloved actors of all time. Aykroyd was probably the first actor i recognised & loved when i was young along with Schwarzenegger, as i constantly watching both Ghostbusters films non-stop, all-the-time & it was Aykroyd's Ray Stantz that i just loved. There's always been something about Aykroyd that i clicked with. Maybe it was his child-like innocence of his characters? Or the way he played the everyman with his natural "dad bod" & nice charm that i related too? Or simply the fact that i grew up watching Many of his hilarious films on video, such as his Ghostbusters 1&2, Trading Places, Dragnet, My Girl, Spies Like Us, The Great Outdoors & Coneheads. Aykroyd's films were in constant rotation growing up & i always thought he came accross much nicer than his pals Chase & Murray (yes I'm a huge fan of both) but Aykroyd always had that childish-charm & super smart wit & knowledge & i just dug his ways & still do in 2021!!!

We will never get another Dan Aykroyd.

Celtic Pride is fun with Aykroyd & Stern bringing the chemistry & Daman Wayans (The Last Boyscout, Mo Money) is also good fun here as the captured NBA player & he turns the tables & causes plenty of craziness with his captors. This will probably never be considered a "CLASSIC" comedy or even a "Cult Classic" but i grew up through the 90's & watched this lots on video, so i have a soft spot for it.

Hey it's still a Decent comedy & light entertainment.