Mystery, Alaska is one of the best sports movies nobody talks about.

Russell Crowe plays John Biebe, one of the best hockey players in Mystery, Alaska—a tiny town where the weekly Saturday Game is basically the center of civic life.

Then somebody gets the bright idea to bring the New York Rangers to Mystery for an exhibition game on the town’s frozen pond.

Yes, that’s the premise.

Ridiculous? Sure. But it works—and not in a goofball comedy way.

The movie has hockey, but it’s really about the town and the people in it. Burt Reynolds, Hank Azaria and a deep supporting cast give Mystery enough personality that the game actually matters by the time everyone finally takes the ice.

The whole setup is preposterous.

I don’t care.