Best of both worlds

 I have previously stated, I am a sucker for sports movies. They are often full of inspiration and grit (and usually have me in tears). I love it. I also love a good cliché teen flick. Good thing for me there's this whole genre of movies that happens to combine the best of both worlds. This happens to be the type of movie that combines sports and young adults focusing on both equally. I am not talking about Disney sports movies (Remember the Titans, Might Ducks, etc...), I am talking about movies that don't necessarily take the "G" rated sugar-coated approach but still have plenty of sports AND teen drama. These movies take the best of both worlds and come out with something great.

1. Varsity Blues.  Ah, Friday Night in Texas. This means one thing: Football. But this poor man's Friday Night Lights is not poor at all. It's pretty great. With superstud/horrible actor Paul Walker and Dawson Leary himself, James Van Der Beek as Mox, this is a winner. And let's not forget the famous "whipped cream bikini." This movie was a touchdown for sure.

2. Summer Catch. Another Freddy Prinze Jr. movie that I couldn't resist. At at the time, Jessica Biel was known for something other than being Justin Timberlake's girlfriend. In the Cape League in Massachusetts in the summer, local hero Ryan Dunne is trying to make it to the big leagues and make his love for rich girl Tenley Parrish work out as well. Her father obviously disapproves and drama sets in. Will he make it? Will they end up together happily ever after? Definitely a homerun.

3. Lucas. This one is an oldy but a goody. Small, nerdy Lucas wants to win over the girl of his dreams. And he does this the best way he knows how... by joining the football team. His size and ability are clearly not that of a successful football player. The the players bully and taunt him, all except for his competition, a very young and handsome (and seemingly sane) Charlie Sheen. The end isn't necessarily what we would call happily ever after, but I can never not love a movie that ends with a slow clap for the hero? It never fails to get a tear from me. LOVE.

These three movies hold a special place in my heart because they fall in that middle ground of sports movie and teen flick. They embody the total stereotypes of high school sports with just enough of the teen movie-ness that I adore so much. They have the hero you root for on the field as well as the love story/couple you want to end up happily ever after. Sometimes they are one and the same and the conflict between what should win out is what drives the story. Really, what more can you ask for with that combo? They are all winners, and so are we when we watch them.