by SARAH ROWLAND

There’s something undeniably futile about sitting down to write a critical review of a film that stars Roy Dupuis as Maurice Richard. After all, the winning combination of a working class hockey hero and Quebec’s biggest cross-over actor will surely conquer the box office, no matter what is printed in the following 300 words.

Nonetheless, here it goes. The Rocket follows the tried-and-tested biopic formula to a T—think Walk the Line, only replace the guitar with a stick, songs with goals, and substitute a disapproving father for a disapproving father-in-law. Or take Ray, and swap racial tensions in the South for language tensions in the North. You get the idea.

Apparently, step one to making this type of hagiography is opening with the most infamous moment in the celeb’s public life (in this case, the 1955 Forum riot). Step two is quickly cutting to character-building moments that occurred during childhood (here we have an adolescent Richard working as a machinist for a union-busting Anglo prick). And then speed through the boy-meets-girl part so you can get to the team tryouts and, from there, relive the highs and lows of the Rocket’s career. The finishing touch is flashing a summary of life achievements across the screen before the credits role. This is a must.

The lead is also essential here, and Dupuis doesn’t disappoint. He pretty much nails the intense, on-ice stare of the Rocket, while leaving enough in his emotional range for Richard’s off-ice persona.

Another added bonus—one that you definitely won’t see in any of its American counterparts—is the way director Charles Binamé weaves archival footage of Montreal into his period piece. Of course, the best parts of any fictionalized biography are the live performances, and this is no exception. Dupuis never makes the same play twice, and each goal is more beautifully choreographed than the last. Suffice to say, The Rocket may not be a landmark in original filmmaking, but it should be enough to keep fans of #9 happy.

The Rocket opens Friday, Nov. 25

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