Necessary Roughness

Necessary Roughness, an American sports-comedy film released in 1991, is the underdog story of a ragtag group of misfit players trying to revive the failing football program at Texas State University. Directed by Stan Dragoti and leading with Scott Bakula, Hector Elizondo, and Robert Loggia in the main roles, the film offers the irresistible allure of sports, humor, and heartwarming feel-good vibes.

The main character in the movie is Paul Blake (Scott Bakula), a 34-year-old farmer who, once in college, intended to play football but ended up dropping out to take over the family farm after his father's demise. Now years later, Texas State University, engulfed in a major scandal involving illegal payouts to its players, has been banned from competing in Division One. Ultimately, Texas State’s only recourse is to form a clean team, with athletes who've never played college level football before.

Coach Gennero (Hector Elizondo), a seasoned mentor with an impeccable reputation, is hired to orchestrate this daunting task. The staff quickly realizes that they must think outside the box to recruit the team. They approach Blake, ostensibly overage but without prior college football history, to be the team's quarterback. Scott Bakula, famous for his casual charm and likable demeanor, delivers a convincing performance of a man dealing with his 'what if' moments from the past.

Alongside him, Harley Jane Kozak plays the role of Dr. Suzanne Carter, a professor who also becomes Blake's love interest. Their matured romantic pairing brings a more nuanced authenticity to the movie. Aided by assistant Coach Wally Riggendorf (Robert Loggia), the rest of the team is put together with a rather eccentric batch of students- they include an overweight boy with magnificent throwing power, a soccer player who can't grasp the rules of American football, a brilliant student who's theoretically perfect but practically terrified on the field, a military practitioner with an expertise in martial arts, a foreign exchange student, a sprinter and a woman, Lucy Draper (Kathy Ireland), who is the team’s placekicker.

As the low-expectation squad grapples with practices, flubs, injuries, and losses, Necessary Roughness shines in its portrayal of camaraderie, resilience, and tenacity that unfolds. It plays up the silliness with slapstick comedy and snappy one-liners, but doesn't shy away from delivering inspirational punches and touchdown moments of motivation.

Each character, while eccentric and laden with film-comedy clichés, brings his own quirk, charm, and spirit to the narrative. They grow from their initial rawness to develop essential skills, teamwork spirit, and an indomitable will. The transition isn't just slapstick comedy but also about realizing their full potential and expressing their love for the game. Their journey is filled with trials and tribulations, fun, mirth, hilarities, game strategies and tricks, and lessons in team spirit and sportsmanship.

The movie also includes some memorable machismo moments, be it Strobe's (Peter Tuiasosopo) Samoan war dance to scare off the rival team or Manu’s (Manu Tuiasosopo) teaching the 'warrior' way of tackling. The professors challenging the students to a game of football or Blake outsmarting the rival defense- all feel like game-time perfection. The strategic visualization before major plays, the value of studying opponent techniques, the need for a disciplined approach, and practicing until perfection- the movie subtly inserts the technical aspects of American Football amidst humor, making the movie more realistic and relatable to actual college football players and fans of the game.

Necessary Roughness, in essence, is not just about football- it's about the spirit of the game. It's about rising above failure and giving your best, no matter what. It captures the heart-wrenching emotions and the nerve-racking anxieties that sports bring in slowly but surely. The audience gets pulled into this adrenaline-infused journey, cheering on the Armadillos as they pull off their unexpected yet well-deserved victories.

A blend of sports-film drama, college film antics, and straightforward humor, Necessary Roughness delivers a charmingly enjoyable experience for movie-lovers and football enthusiasts. Given the high stakes, the setbacks, the growth, and ultimately the triumph, this movie is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good sports-based film.