Celtic Pride MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2

Boston's Celtics basketball team is playing in the NBA championship games and Celtic fans Mike O'Hara (Daniel Stern) and Jimmy Flaherty (Dan Aykroyd) are frantically cheering them on. In fact, they almost get thrown out for yelling derogatory gibes at the referee. And they are devastated when the Celtics lose game Number 6 and the championship title will be decided in the next game. When the opposing team's star player, Lewis Scott (Damon Wayans), shows up at a swinging nightclub that night, they have the brilliant idea of getting him drunk so he won't play well at the final championship game. Their brilliant idea definitely gets out of hand and they end up kidnapping Lewis so he can't play at all. But Lewis doesn't take all this lying down and fights back with some clever tactics of his own. The ensuing tug of war leads to plenty of comical antics, chases, fights, gun threats and amusing dialogue. All the while, Mike's wife (Gail O'Grady) and adolescent son are wondering what's going on. The comedy tends to be corny and often falls flat. The fact that the film has many crude elements will turn off discerning viewers as well.

Mike is a school gym teacher who is so obsessed with professional sports that his family life is suffering. His wife is so disgusted she is threatening a divorce. Although likable, Mike and Jimmy have no scruples. They glibly spew out obscenities and profanities and don't hesitate to get Lewis and themselves falling-down drunk at the nightclub. Further, all their repartee with Lewis is sprinkled with moderate crudities and suggestive quips, and some bathroom humor is thrown in. Also, at one of the games, Jimmy throws in a satirical remark about born again Christians. No actual sex scenes are included, though a scantily clad female dancer is shown briefly at the nightclub. Mike isn't hopeless, and for a while it looks like he will recognize that his family deserves more attention and love. In CELTIC PRIDE, the producers have taken a good movie idea and pretty much destroyed it with corny comedy and crude, offensive elements.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc., 3099 W.Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91521