Hubert Davis knows how to remake a classic.
A refresh of the 1986 Rob Lowe / Patrick Swayze brat pack film, Youngblood tells the story of Dean Youngblood (Ashton James), an up-and-coming hockey player who struggles to balance his greatness with the puck with his personal volatility. After serving a suspension, Dean finds himself with the unlikely opportunity to play for the Hamilton Mustangs as they approach the playoffs. Even though this is his ‘big break’, it’s also his last shot at redemption. As he battles with toxic teammates and the unreasonable pressures of his father, Blane (Blair Underwood), Dean finds knows he has what it takes but can’t seem to get the chance to prove himself. And then, things become even more complicated when Dean becomes interested in his skeptical coach’s daughter Jessie (Alexandra McDonald).
Part of the genius of Davis’ vision stems from the alteration of race within the YoungBlood family. By casting African American actors in the role of Dean and his family, Davis immediately adds a subtext to the film that is more subtle than expected. Here, Dean’s father, Blane, has filled him with anger due to the oppression that he faced for so many years. As a result, Dean believes that he always needs to fight. He’s coached by his father on how to throw a punch and chastised for taking hits without retribution. But Davis doesn’t allow his characters to succumb to rage. Instead, this is a film about directing our frustrations in healthier directions.
It’s these changes that makes Davis’ reimagining of Youngblood so much more than the average ‘sports film’. By tweaking a few of the film’s key elements, Davis manages to breathe new life into the story, making this remake relevant once again. And, in doing so, he makes sure that Youngblood hits when it needs to do so.
Youngblood is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
