While nicely layered with tough, conflicting personal questions, Ducks ultimately flaps off into easy outcomes and pat contrivances. Still it's an overall charmer, and director Stephen Herek keeps it flying with a nifty mix of slapstick and action.

Very lame ice-hockey flick.

The film is remarkably oblivious to the fact that if the team weren't hell-bent on a championship, young moviegoers would be significantly less interested in its adventures.

It’s practically the stuff of resistance these days for a film’s hero to learn wisdom from children about the purity and beauty of honor, and play, and radical acceptance despite winning or losing.