Have you ever in your life, gone out for a sport's activity, tried your best, and then found yourself in an important segment of it, where for a brief moment, you were given a chance to be a hero and a champion and . . . failed? I believe many of us have had that moment in our lives. This is the premise of the movie, "The Best of Times." In this story a middle age banker, named Jack Dundee (Robin Williams) suffers from the deep melancholy of a football mistake, which happened years ago, is inspired to re-play the game . . again. In order to accomplish this he must convince the once great football quarterback, Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell) to make a comeback. For Reno, who is satisfied with his present lot in life, see's no need to change the past record, which get's better as he ages. Added to both their problem is the fact years have passed and in addition, both their marriages are floundering and in need of re-vamping. Not easy when his Father-in-law (Donald Moffat) habitually reminds him of the biggest drop. Nevertheless, Dundee is persistent and will do anything to try and correct the greatest blunder of his life. Great fun for anyone wishing to enjoy their youth again. ***

Many people have pride in their High School, especially their athletic teams, and for the Taft CA class of 1972, losing a playoff football game to the bigger team of Bakersfield, after being local champions has her name a legendary lost in the town. Two classmates, Robin Williams and Kurt Russell, have differing ideas of wanting to get together with their rival team to play again 14 years later, but the town elders disagree, still suffering humiliation over the loss even though they weren't part of the team. With the homecoming queen and some of the cheerleaders encouraging them, they began to practice, leading of course to the big game that really won't change history.

A moderately funny comedy with a good supporting cast, the problem with this is that the premise is weak and the script is flawed. Such familiar character players as Kathleen Freeman, M. Emmet Walsh, Dub Taylor, Donald Moffat and Anne Haney are pleasant in their supporting roles, and there's some female eye candy with Holly Palance and Pamela reif. But other than an amusing opening where Williams narrates the story of Taft, nothing really unique here and the plot itself is as foreign to the audience as your rival team's school song that makes you ask, "Why should I care?"

If you can ever wrap your mind around the concept of Robin Williams as a high school jock I think you might enjoy The Best Of Times. What this is not is a film using the hit song from La Cage Aux Folles as a theme.

Instead Robin Williams plays a guy with a reputation of blowing a long pass from quarterback Kurt Russell in a final game with Bakersfield that blew the state championship for the best high school team that Taft, California ever produced. In fact the opening narrative makes it quite clear that Taft, California is one loser of a town throughout its history. Still living in a small town and married to Holly Palance, daughter of Donald Moffat who was a booster of the Bakersfield team has made life pretty miserable.

No more miserable than it was for Kurt Russell who blew out a knee when the entire Bakersfield line nailed him just as he got off the pass that Williams dropped thereby losing a possible pro career.

So Williams who's had 15 years of taunts decides to challenge his father-in-law to replay the game and maybe history won't repeat itself. It's going to take a lot though to motivate the rest of the team, especially Russell, but Williams has a bag of tricks.

I guess there's nothing sillier then old men trying to act young again. As Bill Holden said to Gloria Swanson, there's nothing wrong with being 50 unless you try to act like you're 25. That forms the basis for most of the comedy in The Best Of Times.

Both Williams and Russell have done better work, but this one will provide a few laughs. Still Williams as a jock does not compute.