Wildcats (1986)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

If you thought “woman football coach in 1986” was the daring part of “Wildcats,” think again. This Goldie Hawn classic was raunchy, sneaky and full of representation.

“Wildcats” got Big D to open up about being a soft child. It gave Gene a chance to talk about his illustrious football career. And it provided a cautionary tale about grownups partying with teens.

In this episode, Dick writes a fanfic mashup of “Wildcats” and “Adventures in Babysitting” while Gene learns how to make children listen. Wholesome!

Molly McGrath (Goldie Hawn) is following her dreams when she quits her cushy girls track coaching position at Prescott High to become the boys football coach at inner-city Central High. Even though she’s faced with both racial and gender prejudices, she whips the team into shape, so they can compete against Prescott High in the final. All the while, Molly is also dealing with her ex-husband, Frank Needham (James Keach), who is trying to get custody of their two young daughters.

Plot Summary:

In the 1986 sports comedy Wildcats, directed by Michael Ritchie, Goldie Hawn stars as Molly McGrath, a determined high school track coach who dreams of coaching football. Molly, who has grown up around the sport thanks to her father’s coaching legacy, is eager to break into the male-dominated field of high school football coaching. Despite her knowledge and passion, Molly faces skepticism and resistance from the school administration and her male colleagues, who doubt her ability to handle a rough sport. When an opportunity arises to coach the Central High Wildcats, a struggling inner-city team with a notorious losing streak, Molly jumps at the chance to prove herself.

The Wildcats are a chaotic group of undisciplined players, led by quarterback Levander ‘Bird’ Williams (Wesley Snipes) and wide receiver Trumaine (Woody Harrelson), who are initially resistant to having a woman coach. Molly faces additional challenges, including managing the players’ antics, dealing with her condescending ex-husband Frank (James Keach), and facing her skeptical male peers. However, Molly brings her own brand of motivation, blending tough love, humor, and innovative coaching techniques to win over her team.

As Molly pushes her players to believe in themselves and each other, they begin to transform from a ragtag group into a cohesive and competitive unit. She not only teaches them the fundamentals of football but also instills values like teamwork, perseverance, and respect. Through ups and downs, the Wildcats rally under Molly’s leadership, defying expectations and striving to turn their season around.

Wildcats is a heartwarming and humorous story about breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes, featuring spirited performances from Goldie Hawn and a young Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson. Join our podcast review as we revisit this 80s sports comedy and explore whether its charm and message still resonate with today’s audiences.

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