All you kids out there - this movie ain't bad! And the kid who played Cherry - pretty good!
I suspect that would be Don Cherry's own evaluation of this production. It's certainly an entertaining enough movie - especially for those who enjoy Don Cherry and/or hockey. Cherry's an interesting man - a combination of his brash and sometimes boorish on-air persona, blended with the off-air Cherry who's a devout Christian; a faithful Anglican who rarely misses church. He's a kind of Jekyll/Hyde character in that sense; a somewhat complicated study. He's the sort you tend to either love or hate. Some would call him a Canadian icon. I think that exaggerates things a bit, although in a CBC television show a few years ago called "The Greatest Canadian" viewers voted Cherry one of the top ten Canadians of all time. Personally, I think that exaggerates things a bit.
In this movie, Cherry's career is traced from his time as a career minor league hockey player to the point at which he finally makes the NHL as coach of the Boston Bruins, only to be fired after losing in the playoffs three years in a row to the Montreal Canadians and feuding with Bruins management. The production finishes with Cherry becoming a commentator on CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada," and finally host of his own 1st intermission show called "Coach's Corner." All this is pretty well depicted, and holding it all together was the story of Cherry's relationship with his beloved wife Rose, who died of cancer in 1997. Special mention goes to Jared Keeso for a pretty good performance as Cherry. He didn't really look the part, but he certainly captured the distinctive Cherry voice and was believable in the role.
If you love Cherry or if you like hockey you'll enjoy this. You get a pretty good feel of what life was like in the minors in the 50's and 60's. Also, if you're not a big hockey fan but you've ever watched the Paul Newman movie "Slap Shot" and you've been curious about who Eddie Shore was (he gets mentioned several times in "Slap Shot") there's a great depiction of him as the owner of one of the minor league teams Cherry played for.
So, it's interesting. I did find myself wondering, though - "The Greatest Canadian" aside - if Don Cherry's life really warranted the effort involved in a 4 hour TV production (yes, that included commercials.) But, again, it is interesting enough - just like Don Cherry - whether you love him or hate him - is an interesting man.
I suspect that would be Don Cherry's own evaluation of this production. It's certainly an entertaining enough movie - especially for those who enjoy Don Cherry and/or hockey. Cherry's an interesting man - a combination of his brash and sometimes boorish on-air persona, blended with the off-air Cherry who's a devout Christian; a faithful Anglican who rarely misses church. He's a kind of Jekyll/Hyde character in that sense; a somewhat complicated study. He's the sort you tend to either love or hate. Some would call him a Canadian icon. I think that exaggerates things a bit, although in a CBC television show a few years ago called "The Greatest Canadian" viewers voted Cherry one of the top ten Canadians of all time. Personally, I think that exaggerates things a bit.
In this movie, Cherry's career is traced from his time as a career minor league hockey player to the point at which he finally makes the NHL as coach of the Boston Bruins, only to be fired after losing in the playoffs three years in a row to the Montreal Canadians and feuding with Bruins management. The production finishes with Cherry becoming a commentator on CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada," and finally host of his own 1st intermission show called "Coach's Corner." All this is pretty well depicted, and holding it all together was the story of Cherry's relationship with his beloved wife Rose, who died of cancer in 1997. Special mention goes to Jared Keeso for a pretty good performance as Cherry. He didn't really look the part, but he certainly captured the distinctive Cherry voice and was believable in the role.
If you love Cherry or if you like hockey you'll enjoy this. You get a pretty good feel of what life was like in the minors in the 50's and 60's. Also, if you're not a big hockey fan but you've ever watched the Paul Newman movie "Slap Shot" and you've been curious about who Eddie Shore was (he gets mentioned several times in "Slap Shot") there's a great depiction of him as the owner of one of the minor league teams Cherry played for.
So, it's interesting. I did find myself wondering, though - "The Greatest Canadian" aside - if Don Cherry's life really warranted the effort involved in a 4 hour TV production (yes, that included commercials.) But, again, it is interesting enough - just like Don Cherry - whether you love him or hate him - is an interesting man.