Big Dreams

In 1998 Dominik cheered for the Czech hockey team when they played for gold in Nagano, and he wanted to be like them, at least a little bit, so he settled for a tennis ball and playing on the floor. But a game against a team of older guys can be just as important as Nagano in the eyes of a Dominik Hašek fan. Dan Pánek delivers a fine family film that relies heavily on nostalgia and obviously lived-in experiences. And it manages to be so entertaining that you can quite willingly overlook the weaker acting and the underdevelopment of some subplots. (02/22/2023)

I believe that if I was an ice-hockey fan and I had experienced the Nagano victory properly (I was only six years old at the time), I would certainly see Dan Pánek's film as a dream come true. As a non-sports-loving viewer, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, especially thanks to the generally decent performances and the period atmosphere. Apart from the preparation for the big match, which reminded me of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, which was much more extreme, the film also focuses on interpersonal relationships and thus has a broader scope. There could have been more humour, but still, better three stars. (05/15/2023)