The film's dialog is a blast of fresh air, with its witty observations and some unforgettable lines. There are also some unforgettable characters, most notably Aunt Phil, who is so hateful that we squirm in our seats whenever she's on screen. But the central relationship between Draper and Reg is what makes the film spring to life--the terrific performances and dialog draw out serious themes without ever getting maudlin. Fascinating interrelationships between all the characters are very cleverly drawn out through the performances, and the overriding hockey metaphor works surprisingly well. In the end, there's perhaps too much to make the central journey Draper takes work as well as it should--the film covers so much emotional ground that we literally laugh and cry and end up unsure how we're supposed to feel. Not necessarily a bad thing, especially in a film with so much to offer, but a bit frustrating nonetheless.