D3: The Mighty Ducks

1996

Action / Comedy / Drama / Family / Sport

33
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 20% · 15 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 45% · 100K ratings
IMDb Rating 5.5/10 10 30176 30.2K

scholarship sports college ice hockey teenage boy baffled

Director

Robert Lieberman Photo
Robert Lieberman

Top cast

Samantha Harris Photo
Samantha Harris as Cindy
Joshua Jackson Photo
Joshua Jackson as Charlie Conway
Scott Whyte Photo
Scott Whyte as Scott
Michael Cudlitz Photo
Michael Cudlitz as Cole
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
755.67 MB
1280*688
English 2.0
PG
Subtitles
23.976 fps
1 hr 44 min
Seeds 9
1.57 GB
1904*1024
English 2.0
PG
Subtitles
23.976 fps
1 hr 44 min
Seeds 29

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Retro_Movie_Lover 4 / 10

Has Moments But Is Incredibly Inferior

Directed by Robert Lieberman and once again written by Steven Brill, D3: The Mighty Ducks is the third and final film in this franchise.The story sees the Ducks being given scholarships to a very upper class high school, Eden Hall Academy, to represent their JV Varsity hockey team, the Warriors. Things do not go well as the Varsity team, and the majority of the school board (minus the Dean) for the school look down upon the Ducks. Not helping matters is their new head coach, Ted Orion, who is a far more strict and abrasive coach than Gordon Bombay.Considering that the previous film had the Ducks representing the entire US in the Junior Goodwill Games, this film feels like a giant step backwards. The clear message here is about the teens growing up and maturing, which is commendable, but it doesn't cover the fact that this is a very uneventful sequel for the most part.It has its moments. For instance, the Ducks and the Varsity's pranks against one another is still funny, and the overall moral lesson is good. However, the film focuses a little too much on these elements at times, causing the story to persistently drag.Not helping matters is the fact that the quality of the production is quite inferior to the other films. Robert Lieberman, who unfortunately passed away in 2023, was more of a low budget, direct to video type of director, which does show at times here. A lot of choppy editing, poor dubbing and the hockey, while serviceable, is nowhere near as entertaining. The games are slower, and the overall presentation is disjointed. It also hurts that there's only three games, but considering Lieberman's clear challenge with shooting them, that might be a good thing.The acting is this films one saving grace. The returning cast all deliver. Joshua Jackson is a bit over the top at times but it fits the story. While Emilio Estevez is not in the film for very long, his scenes are well done and what he contributes helps elevate things. I also really like Jeffrey Nordling as Coach Ted Orion.So overall, it has a good moral lesson and some fun moments, but this was clearly a third film Disney wanted made but no one knew what to do with. It looks and feels so much smaller and inferior to the two other films that it's quite startling.
Reviewed by snoozejonc 6 / 10

Similar quality to the first two movies

This is an okay threquel, but what I like most is its appeal to the younger members of my household. My daughter is 8 years old and into sport, so it works for her.I am not personally a huge fan of the franchise, but like the original and D2 this is generally a lighthearted and fun experience. I think the hockey scenes look technically better this time round. They are a predictable cheese fest, but enjoyable nonetheless. However, the associated character drama involving the coach and players feels as forced and implausible its predecessors. Mighty Ducks films do not do character conflict well at all.I have no issues with the new coach and in fact find Jeffery Nording a more plausible hockey coach than Emilio Estevez. The script is not great, but Nording delivers his dialogue convincingly. Estevez you feel is there on name alone and appears to go through the motions.This time round the young characters are not quite as appealing as they were previously, but there are some good scenes of misbehaviour, pranking and off ice shenanigans that are pretty entertaining. The Prep school setting and cliched antagonistic characters make you role your eyes, but if you do not take it more seriously than you should and accept it for what it is, there is no reason not to enjoy.It it a 5.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
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