The Late Game

This movie is a near-perfect snapshot of a random, middle-of-the-week rec league hockey game. The building they play in is empty, but not cartoonishly decrepit, and the characters introduced aren't stereotypes or fit a trope. Rather, you get the feeling any one of the guys on Polly's Pies could show up at your next meet. They're funny, but not in a gag humor, setup-punchline kinda way, and when it comes to the actual hockey, the action matches real life. It's sloppy, chatty, tense, but not overdramatic or epic. Much like how Creed veered away from the unrealistic haymakers and uppercuts of Rocky, this gives the realistic speed, strategy and momentum of amateur-at-best hockey. It's just another game, and you get that sense watching the movie, but while that may sound boring to some, it really gives the movie a lot of charm. It's an easy watch, a low-stakes slice-of-life comedy that you'd come across at 2 pm on Comedy Central back in the day, and I mean that as a compliment. I recommend it!

This is a fun film that gets almost everything right about playing late-night beer league hockey. It's not perfect and won't be up for any Oscars, but if you know the nutty world of hockey players who stay up late purely for the love of the game, it will be worthwhile.

I've played adult rec-league hockey into my seventies(!) and I assure you all the locker room and on-ice hi-jinks in The Late Game have taken place sometime, somewhere. In fact, I could offer up to the screenwriter & director a loong list of other hysterical happenings. But they didn't ask me. I'm eternally grateful they didn't rely on the sports-movie trope of slo-mo, BTW!

If you follow the ONLY hockey podcast that matters, RA from Spittin' Chiclets does an excellent job as the Zamboni driver.

To the geniuses who contributed barely intelligible pans here: this is what's known as a low-budget first film. These guys have cracked the door open and you will see more from them, I guarantee it. Whether a better-funded version that gets to play with plot lines (e.g.romantic) left undeveloped, a complete re-boot, or a completely different film and story,

Watch these guys. They play a game that's tough and unpredictable, just like "Hollywood."

This was a really fun movie! I don't understand the 1 star reviews.

I am usually really hard on movies, but I thought it was really enjoyable and funny.

Some other reviews said they were tricked into watching a movie about a beer league hockey game, but it literally says that in the description.

If you take things so seriously you can't enjoy a sweet and relatable movie about a late night hockey game.......then this movie isn't for you.

If you enjoy character driven movies where the point is to enjoy the journey not the destination give this a watch.

Really impressive what they did for a small indy film.

Firstly, so many weird one star or ten star reviews on here already. Trust me, this movie is neither of those things.

Secondly, it's nice to have a movie where a man shows us what it means to be a man these days. I mean with all the modern self doubt, loneliness and desire to make friends as well as feeling part of something.

The setting is an amateur game of hockey , late at night. The action takes place in the space of one night and one game. Out protagonist is reticent to go to the game but along the way, the audience can feel him warming to the game and his teammates.

The film has a very 'Clerks' type feel to it with characters in and round the rink and the game adding to the drama whilst the game is happening.

I would recommend it if you like ice hockey, Clerks, bro movies or you just want an easy watch with some humour.

If you're a beer leaguer, or just love a beer leaguer, this movie is like spending a night at the rink. Not only does it provide good laughs, but you'll instantly know who's a "Kevin" or a "Spondy" at your local barn.

This was a fun and easy watch that reminded me that all roads lead to beer league. If you're lucky, you're still lacing up late into life and remembering that it's about more than who wins or loses, it's about just being there and having fun and appreciating the goons beside you when you do it.

The Late Game does that, with a couple great cameos. Like all things beer-league-related, not suitable for your little kids to watch unless they're already used to you dropping f-bombs on the daily.