Review: The Match

The Match (1999)
Plot: Patrons of two pubs in an Irish village compete in a soccer match to settle a 100 year old bet.

My take: I'm a sucker for a good underdog sports movie and I'm a super sucker for a great Irish film. This is both and then some. Not only is the main plot the perfect sports formula, but The Match has many fun subplots, too. You root for the lead and his gimp leg trying to get the girl. You root for the heart broken American trying to get it on with the lead's girl's mom. You root for the villain to be defeated. You even root for the man who falls in love with his cow (don't ask, just watch!). How I missed this gem before now will forever plague me. I got it from the library last week and watched while on the treadmill and boy, was I going faster during the final soccer match. Go work out to it today!

Mood To Be In: When you want to watch something that gives you the same fun feeling as Waking Ned Devine this is it. If you need to match it with another sports movie, it would make a great double feature with the soccer flick, Victory with Sly Stallone and Michael Caine especially after a few pints of Guinness!