Watch Wildcats
- R
- 1986
- 1 hr 46 min
-
6.1 (14,784)
Wildcats is a sports comedy-drama film from 1986 that features Goldie Hawn as an underdog high school football coach. The movie follows the story of Molly McGrath, a Chicago housewife and mother of two, who secures a job as a football coach at an inner-city high school in attempt to find herself and get ahead after her husband leaves her.
At first, Molly struggles in the male-dominated world of high school football. Her players, who come from a low-income neighborhood with little respect for authority, don't take her seriously, and neither does the school's staff or the rival teams. Despite this, Molly manages to whip her team into shape, instilling discipline and team spirit through creative and unexpected approaches, such as changing their uniforms to make them feel more confident and proud.
With the help of her tough-talking BFF Holly (Swoosie Kurtz), Molly turns the team's fortunes around and leads them to win games against all odds. But she faces new challenges when her ex-husband, Frank (James Keach), starts meddling in her life, trying to win her back and putting her job at risk. She also has to contend with sexism, racism and homophobia among the players, the parents and the school administration.
As the season progresses, Molly gains the respect and admiration of her team and becomes a role model for young women, teaching them life lessons about courage, perseverance, teamwork and resilience. She also learns valuable lessons about herself, her family and her inner strength, as she faces tough decisions and emotional turmoil.
Wildcats blends humor, drama and sports action in a winning formula that appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Goldie Hawn shines in her charismatic performance as Molly, bringing heart and humor to a character that defies stereotypes and conventions. Swoosie Kurtz delivers witty one-liners and loyal support to Hawn's character, while the young actors who play the football players, including Robyn Lively, Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, give nuanced portrayals of troubled teens who find redemption and purpose in a sport they love.
The movie also features a catchy soundtrack, with songs by artists such as LL Cool J, Cameo and Kool Moe Dee, that adds to the film's energetic and upbeat atmosphere. The football scenes are well choreographed and cinematized, with plenty of close-ups and slow-motion shots that showcase the players' skills and emotions.
Wildcats is a timeless sports classic that celebrates the underdog spirit, the power of laughter and the beauty of diversity. It inspired a generation of women to pursue their dreams and break the glass ceiling in sports and beyond. It's a feel-good movie that combines heart and humor in equal measure, and that will leave you cheering for the Wildcats until the final whistle.
Wildcats is a 1986 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 41.