Playing a disgraced lawyer coaching the world's worst ice-hockey team as part of his community service, former Brat Packer Emilio Estevez makes the best of what, the ice apart, could hardly be called a cool assignment. It's The Bad News Bears with skates, and you know from the first face-off how it's going to end. But director Stephen Herek pitches every gag and moment of melodrama at just the right level. Released here as Champions, the film spawned two sequels and inspired Disney to form its own pro-league club, called, unsurprisingly, the Mighty Ducks.

After reckless young lawyer Gordon Bombay gets arrested for drunk driving, he must coach a kids hockey team for his community service. Gordon has experience on the ice, but isn't eager to return to hockey, a point hit home by his tense dealings with his own former coach, Jack Reilly. The reluctant Gordon eventually grows to appreciate his team, which includes promising young Charlie Conway, and leads them to take on Reilly's tough players.