Is
that enough time for the opening and closing slow-motion flashbacks from D3 to lose their authority? Can the
vault reopen for a long-rumored/proposed D4
late in this decade or early in the next?
In
the quest for an answer, the most encouraging aspect is the widespread approval
of the trilogy’s veterans. In a 2014 Time Magazine piece, Matt Doherty (Averman), Elden Henson (Fulton) and
Marguerite Moreau (Connie) all indicated they would want in. Joshua Jackson
(Charlie) has repeatedly expressed comparable sentiments.
Technically,
“when” still has yet to upend “if” on this matter. Regardless of that status,
the question of “how” has more open ice to work with.
To
drop the puck on Pucks and Recreation’s 25-day look back on The Mighty Ducks and all of its
offshoots, a quartet of staff writers offer their ideal plotlines for a hypothetical
D4.
Eden Hall ensemble
Two
years ago, Jurassic World gave us one
sound example of how to pick up on a ’90s film series two-plus decades later.
That is, it rehashed a familiar storyline and brought back a few familiar
faces, but let new blood take to the forefront. And that would be the way to go
for a belated D4.
With
several of the Mighty Ducks actors now
focusing on other careers, there is no sense in reassembling the old flock.
With that said, there is no reason to shut out the characters whose performers
are still in the business. There should be enough to create a story-hopping
screenplay that catches up with a handful of former Ducks in their adult,
post-playing lives.
Charlie
is an obvious must-have, and maybe by now he could be coaching Gordon’s
teenaged son at Eden Hall. Meanwhile, to reflect the progress the women’s game has
made, the school should field a girls’ team co-coached by Connie and Guy, a la
Shannon and Matt Desrosiers.
Like
their coaches before them, the new players carrying the Ducks torch will take
everything that comes with it, including off-ice hijinks and run-ins with rival
teams. A bonus narrative could revolve around the injury-prone Adam Banks
trying to end his professional playing career with dignity. – Al Daniel
Like Gordon, like
Charlie
The
logical choice for D4 would be to
bring back many of the central characters, but keep the focus on Charlie. In
the same way Gordon grew distant from hockey in the events leading up to the
first film, a possible plot in D4
could involve Charlie returning from his own hockey hiatus, this time as a
coach of his son’s team.
Throughout
the movie, the cast of the original trilogy could make cameos, with Bombay
assuming a similar role as Joss Ackland’s late Hans character. Gordon could
supply the hockey wisdom Conway needs in his first attempt at coaching.
By
the end of the movie, returnees such as Fulton, Banks and Julie Gaffney could
all make an appearance to cheer on Charlie and his son’s team as they face
their main rival.
Who
would be that rival? If the primary antagonist is a player from a previous Ducks movie, be it an ex-teammate of
Charlie’s or a former opponent, conflicting loyalties could make for an
interesting D4 plot twist. – John Morton
Aging with grace
The Mighty Ducks trilogy’s
original fan base has grown over its quarter-century of existence. It would therefore
make sense if the movie universe had moved on in time as well. So, if D4 is made, it should be set in the
present day with a recently retired Charlie Conway.
Conway
went on to have a long, successful career in the NHL, and is now coaching his son’s
team. He is struggling in that role because he is overbearing on his kids, and
must realize that he is becoming like Coach Reilly from the first movie. He
must learn the balance of getting his players to win, but keeping it fun for
them in the process.
Conway’s
relationship with his son would be a major storyline in the movie. Due to his
time away from the family in the NHL, he doesn’t have a great relationship with
his son. Having missed many special events, he decides to coach his son’s team
to rebuild their relationship. But with his intensity, their already shaky
relationship becomes even rougher.
Eventually
they get it together and face off against a rival team with Conway’s son
winning on a breakaway with a quadruple deke because the goalie only expects
the triple deke. Charlie Conway had made the triple-deke famous in the NHL, therefore
the move has become commonplace. – Zach
Green
The more things
change…
If
D4 ever happens, the time that has
passed since the original three came out offers a great chance to go full
circle. The kids from the original film would likely be in their 30s by now,
perhaps with kids of their own playing youth hockey
D4 should focusing on
two teams, one for each generation. One would be the traditional Mighty Ducks,
made up of a few children of some of the original team, and perhaps a few other
players. It would be most fitting for Charlie to coach the team. As Bombay’s
protege, it is only fitting that he would go on to fill his shoes someday.
The
tactics and style of play would now be engrained into Mighty Ducks hockey, and
the team would truly be a force to be reckoned with. They are no longer
underdogs, but the dominant team in the area, much like the Hawks once were.
The
other side of the film would focus on the original crew, now playing on an
adult-league team coached by Bombay. The guys would have grown up to be
successful in their adult lives, thanks to the shift in focus from winning to
teamwork fun as the original films progressed.
Along
with the success in their day-to-day lives, the hobbies of the original crew
would be shown. Among these would be reflecting on their “glory days” of
hockey, watching their children play for their former team and playing their
own games. – Andrew Wisneski
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