Originally presented on Hallmark Channel two years ago, "Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story" doesn't tell the whole story of one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
The film starts with archived footage of Howe early in his career, leading up to his retirement after 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. The balance of the film is a dramatization of Howe's comeback, playing alongside sons Marty & Mark, for the Houston Aeros of the short-lived World Hockey Association, which merged with the NHL in time for the 1979-80 season. Howe (Michael Shanks) finds himself a bit of a pariah with his former club, whose ownership at the time vowed that there would never be a merger of the two leagues, feeling betrayed, for lack of a better description, by the decision of Howe to come out of retirement to help his sons and the Aeros win the WHA title.
It ends with footage of the 1980 NHL All-Star Game, and the real Howe, who would return to the NHL with Hartford. I believe the 1980 All-Star Game was his last. Aside from game action, it plays as a standard, cookie-cutter cable movie.
While the complete film is available on YouTube, I think we'll be safe with the trailer:
Rating: C.
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