Let me be blunt: I really liked this movie and I hate just about everything, including football.

The magic of Varsity Blues is that the story line transcends the game of football. I have no doubt the film will appeal to both sports fans and detractors alike. This means that, guys, you can safely bring your gals along. The film has any number of emotional moments that will leave the women grabbing for their hankies. It is equally chockfull of bone-crushing action scenes, not to mention a spicy chunk of time spent in one of West Canaan's better topless establishments. It's bound to make happy customers out of all but a handful of bible salesmen and other assorted parishioners.

Moxon – who is more used to reading Kurt Vonnegut novels on the sidelines (and breaking his father's nose at family barbecues) – soon finds himself off the bench and into the public eye. Along with his new found celebrity, however, comes some heavy baggage. The coach and a few of the town's bumbling citizens approach Moxon with demands that go against his moral fiber. He must choose between caving in to seemingly insurmountable pressure from without or staying true to his convictions within (guess which one he does).

If there is a pot shot to be taken at the film it's that some of the territory is familiar. This is of little consequence, however, since it's not where Varsity Blues goes that matters, it's how it gets there. The movie's fine production combined with W. Peter Iliff's imaginative screenplay work well to pull you into the plight of its characters. I walked out of the theater amazed that I could actually care about a guy (Billy Bob played by Ron Lester) who weighed about 400 pounds, drank maple syrup straight out of the bottle, and looked sweatier than his pet hog named "Bacon."

Other notables I should not forget to mention before I return to writing rock reviews: Joe Pichler provides apt comic relief as Moxon's younger brother, Kyle, who begins the film tied to a crucifix of his own making and ends it leading a cult of pre-pubescent disciples straight through Mama's kitchen. Oh, and the soundtrack is loaded with goodies from Green Day, Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, Collective Soul, and many others.

One more thing: I should say that I am not really the sports snob that I may have made myself out to be in my opening statement. Just like the rest of America, I do find myself watching the games on occasion, you know, during the World Series and the Super Bowl. Let's put it this way, to borrow some phrasing from the late Charles Bukowsi: I don't really hate football, I just feel a whole lot better when it's not around.