The Replacements (2000) review

Professional football players for the Washington Sentinels go on strike, so team owner Edward O'Neil (Jack Warden, in his last screen role) brings back Coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) to assemble a replacement roster to fill in for the final few games, which includes former Ohio State quarterback Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), speedy grocery clerk Clifford Franklin (Orlando Jones), financially-strapped kicker Nigel Gruff (Rhys Ifans), etc. - at first they have a tough time syncing up, but eventually bond together, manage to win, and then the regular quarterback Eddie Martel (Brett Cullen) decides to cross the picket line.  Although it is based on a true story - there was a strike in the NFL during the 1987 season - the screenplay lacks creativity and all "plot developments" are routinely mapped out in advance, the players are buffoonish (Jon Favreau as a foamy-mouthed linebacker really hams it up) and Deutch makes sure there's a new recognizable pop song playing every couple of minutes.  If Any Given Sunday was created by an actual fan who views the sport as a form of war, this was assembled by casuals who occasionally watch highlight reels.  And speaking as a gridiron fanatic, surely I can't be the only one who misses the commentary from both John Madden and a boozy Pat Summerall?