Mystery, Alaska is a 1999 sports comedy-drama film directed by Jay Roach and written by David E. Kelley. The film was shot on location in Alberta, Canada, and stars Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, Burt Reynolds, Mary McCormack, and Lolita Davidovich.
The film follows the lives of the residents of the small, isolated town of Mystery, Alaska, where the Saturday pond hockey game is the biggest event of the week. The town's team, made up of various local residents, is the pride of the community, and their games are attended by nearly all of the town's residents.
When the New York Rangers agree to visit Mystery to play a televised exhibition game against the local team, the town is thrown into a frenzy of excitement. The arrival of the Rangers, along with the media and a team of slick promoters, turns the quiet town upside down.
As the game approaches, tensions rise, and not just among the players. The town's judge (Burt Reynolds) has a longstanding grudge against its hockey hero (Russell Crowe), and a group of local women launch a protest against the objectification of female fans.
When the game finally takes place, it is a battle for pride and honor, with more than just a win or a loss at stake. The residents of Mystery, Alaska will never forget this monumental event, and their lives will be changed forever.
