James Van Der Beek’s Coming-Of-Age Sports Drama Is Still One Of The Most Underrated Football Movies Ever

James Van Der Beek‘s tragic death has inspired a lot of reflection on his brilliant career, but his coming-of-age sports drama is still shockingly underrated. Van Der Beek is best known for his roles on TV, and the teen drama Dawson’s Creek made him a star. Six seasons in the show’s title role endeared him to a generation of viewers.

With his natural charm and down-to-earth screen presence, Van Der Beek excelled at playing everyday heroes. Though success on the big screen mostly eluded him, Van Der Beek did make one iconic splash in movieland. Unfortunately, the best work of his career is still overlooked, and his legendary football movie doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

Varsity Blues Is James Van Der Beek’s Best Performance

Released a year or so into the six-season run of Dawson’s Creek, James Van Der Beek’s starring role in 1999’s Varsity Blues further propelled the up-and-comer into the limelight. Set in a small Texas town, the film concerns a brainy second-string quarterback (Van Der Beek) who is thrust into the spotlight when the starter is injured.

Eschewing an idealized view of football, Varsity Blues contrasts its teen drama with the action on the gridiron. Van Der Beek’s Jonathon Moxon must deal with the pressure of a small town’s football obsession, while pursuing his own dreams. Van Der Beek was perfectly cast, and his iconic “I don’t want your life” speech is the highlight of his career.

Critics were cold toward the coming-of-age film, though it did well at the box office. Varsity Blues was simply released a few years too soon, and it acted as a precursor to movies like Friday Night Lights. It has gained cult classic status for good reason, and it deserves a place among the other excellent teen-centric dramas of the ’90s.

While the movie is certainly stuffed with clichés, those issues are magnified by the films that came afterward. Along with Van Der Beek, the ensemble is perfect, with each supporting character providing their own iconic moments. Obvious care went into the making of Varsity Blues, and its lack of cynicism is probably why it failed in the distinctly cynical ’90s.

The Cast Of Varsity Blues Is Stacked With Future Stars

The Varsity Blues Cast pose on a truck with matching uniforms on

Varsity Blues elevated James Van Der Beek into A-list status, but a few other young stars appeared in the movie. Paul Walker plays Lance Harbor, the starting quarterback of the team and Mox’s best friend. Walker was already a decade into his acting career, but Varsity Blues began a successful period that would culminate in The Fast and the Furious.

Future TV star Scott Caan plays Charlie Tweeder, a cocky persona that the actor would revive in other roles. Varsity Blues introduces Amy Smart as Jules Harbor, and she would find great success throughout the 2000s. Ali Larter plays Darcy Sears, a part that would propel her to a notable career in the ensuing decades.

James Van Der Beek‘s passing is another in a string of tragedies involving the Varsity Blues cast. Paul Walker died in an auto accident in 2013. Meanwhile, co-star Ron Lester (who played Billy Bob) passed away from health complications in 2016. Though a rewatch might be tinged with sadness, Varsity Blues is a perfect legacy for the late cast members.