A junior hockey star is about as high as you can get in Canada. A junior hockey star who suffers a bad injury and his life spirals can make for an interesting story in First Round Down.
Tim Tucker (Dylan Bruce) was that junior hockey star. Tucker injures his knee in the Sterling Cup final, ending any prospect of a NHL future.
Tucker becomes a hit man. He finds himself back in town (Hamilton) just in time for the team's 10-year championship reunion.
At a crossroads, Tucker starts caring for his much younger brother Matthew (Percy Hynes White). He delivers pizzas, including to his former girlfriend Kelly (Rachel Wilson) who has a new beau Winston (Kristian Bruun).
Kelly's dad Coach Quinn (Peter MacNeill) is heavily in debt and is the target of Tim's old boss Sonny (John Kapelos).
The offbeat film comes from writers/directors the Butler Brothers: Brett M. Butler and Jason G. Butler. You may know their work as they co-produced, edited, and were on screen for Love in the Sixth, the debut feature film from Jude Klassen.
While First Round Down starts out a little slow, the bend (not quite a twist) rewards the filmgoer with a smarter film than you might think after the first half-hour.
The brothers have a sensibility where they are comfortable with the characters and remain loyal to where they go in the film.
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Bobby (Rob Ramsay) is the stereotypical best friend on many levels but is consistent with hockey worship, even with Tim and Bobby being on the same team. Ramsay, like the other actors, has a lot of fun with his role.
Joel Thomas Hynes, real life father of Percy Hynes White, plays a bad guy who works for Sonny.
First Round Down is a well-crafted that goes well beyond its plot to be a reasonably enjoyable film.
video credit: YouTube/Brett Butler
photo credit: First Round Down film
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