Necessary Roughness (1991)

25% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(9,085 ratings)

After a recruitment scandal, a struggling college football team is forced to turn to a rag-tag group of misfits in this sports comedy. It seems that Texas State University's football team has relied on some rather unorthodox -- and illegal -- methods to gain players, resulting in the… More After a recruitment scandal, a struggling college football team is forced to turn to a rag-tag group of misfits in this sports comedy. It seems that Texas State University's football team has relied on some rather unorthodox -- and illegal -- methods to gain players, resulting in the disqualification of most of the team's stars. The desperate coach (Hector Elizondo) must rely on the school's actual students, a motley crew of unlikely characters that includes a female place kicker and a quarterback in his thirties. Unexpectedly, however, the coach discovers that the passer still has a heck of an arm, and suddenly the team again has a chance. The expected comic complications and obvious bits of slapstick follow as this band of eccentrics struggles to find a way to victory, resulting in a familiar reprise of a well-worn storyline. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Stan Dragoti
Written By: Rick Natkin, David J. Fuller
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 27, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Jan 30, 2001
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Clint Morris, Moviehole
Kicks goals both as a comedy and sports Pic
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
"Major League" on the gridiron, if that's what you need

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Necessary Roughness is a mildly entertaining comedy. This is not the type of film that is hysterically funny, but more mildly funny. There are a few chuckles here and there, but never anything hilarious. There's a decent cast here and they make the film work well. Though not a… More
Necessary Roughness is a mildly entertaining comedy. This is not the type of film that is hysterically funny, but more mildly funny. There are a few chuckles here and there, but never anything hilarious. There's a decent cast here and they make the film work well. Though not a great comedy, Necessary Roughness is far from the worst. For the most part, I enjoyed the film, though it was a fairly decent film, and a decent attempt at a football comedy. I thought that the film was lots of fun despite the fact that it didn't have any memorable funny moments. This is purely a mindless film to watch. The film has nothing really hilarious, but it definitely is fun to watch. The film does have amusing bits here and there, and though it has been regarded as one of the worst sports comedies in the history of sports, I don't believe that to be true. I considering the film Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice to be the worst film, and not Necessary Roughness. This film does have plenty effective, fun moments to make it an enjoyable film. However they could have done a better job as well. The script could have gone through a rewrite to boost up the decent comedic elements. This a mindless decent comedy with a few decent laughs throughout. Although not the best sports comedy, this is far from the worst. Although I enjoyed this film, I think that best Football comedy has yet to be made. For what it is, Necessary Roughness is mindless fun despite its flaws.
Phil H

This only gets a reasonable score cos of the cast. There's a great line up here of new and old faces. The film is the usual collection of sports cliches and very predictable, its fun but its been done many many times before. The NFL version of major league.
xGary X

A fairly run of the mill sports movie with all the cliches in place, but Bakula and Elizondo are always very likeable.
danny d

pretty good flick, kathy ireland in her prime
Dean M

Good comedy with a college in a terrible football team. Model Kathy Ireland's cool for kicking one of other team's player's balls. Opps!
Leo L

Funny!

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Scott Bakula as Paul Blake

            Hector Elizondo as Coach Ed Gennero

            Robert Loggia as Coach Wally Riggendorf

            Harley Jane Kozak as Suzanne Carter

            Larry Miller as Dean Elias

            Fred Dalton Thompson as Carver Purcell

            Sinbad as Andre Krimm

            Rob Schneider as Chuck Neiderman

            Jason Bateman as Jarvis Edison

            Andrew Bryniarski as Wyatt Beaudry

            Duane Davis as Featherstone

            Michael Dolan as Eric "Samorai" Hansen

            Peter Navy Tuiasosopo as Manumana

            Kathy Ireland as Lucy Draper

            Chris Berman as Himself

            Rodger Boyce as Sheriff Woods

            Dick Butkus as Convict Football Player

            Earl Campbell as Convict Football Player

            Darryl Cox as Referee

            Roger Craig as Convict Football Player

            Ben Davidson as Convict Football Player

            Tony Dorsett as Convict Football Player

            Coquina Dunn as Bessie

            Marcus Giamatti as Sargie

            Evander Holyfield as Convict Football Player

            Eddie Jones
            
            Andrew Lauer as Charlie Banks

            Louis Mandylor as McKenzie

            Jerry Rice as Convict Football Player

            Scott Thomson
            
            Herschel Walker as Convict Football Player

            Randy Wayne White as Convict Football Player

            Scott Davis as Football Player

            Raul Flores as Jayhawk Linebacker

            Geoff Garza as Manuel

            Lee Gideon as Booster

            Michael Petty as Space Cadet #2

            Dave Tanner as Pianist

            Mindy Marin
            
            Allan Graf as Billy Bob's Bartender

            Spencer Prokop as Waiter

            Jim Kelly as Convict Football Player
See full cast