I
was not much of a hockey fan growing up, yet I was still very aware
of who Bob Probert was. It was hard to avoid hearing about him if you
lived anywhere near Detroit. All I really knew was he was a big,
tough, fighter who played for the Red Wings and he had a drug
problem.
The documentary Tough
Guy: The Bob Probert Story
presents him as a man who certainly fit that description. He fought
because that was the niche he could fill on the ice. He won because
his macho pride would not let him lose. He drank and did drugs to
dull the pain from taking so many punches. The movie skips around a
bit and does not delve particularly deep into his psyche. Other than
that, it is a compelling look at a guy whose lifestyle matched his
professional demeanor a little too much, as well as a behind the
scenes peek at the Detroit Red Wings during that time.
Though
Tough
Guy
starts with some slight backstory on Probert, it is primarily focused
on his tenure as a pro hockey player. His story is told using audio
interviews, archival footage and new interviews with his family,
friends, former teammates and peers. Probert makes for a good
subject. He was a charismatic guy with real talent, but his main
value came from intimidation. Opposing teams knew if they messed with
any of the Red Wings' stars, they would have to deal with Probert.
That mentality caused him trouble in his private life, especially
when he was under the influence. The movie is sympathetic toward him
despite his faults, but it does not hide them nor attempt to excuse
them.
This
is a pretty fast-paced doc, hopping from one legal issue to another,
showing the effect it had on Probert’s personal and professional
lives. That is what the movie is about. However, the filmmakers also
take the time to touch on many different topics in the course of
relating this story. In addition to pro sports and addiction, it
intersects with the life of a celebrity, sports journalism,
concussions and retirement. While it does not totally explore all of
these things, just including them adds context to Probert’s life.
The
most interesting aspect of his story is his relationship with the Red
Wings. The filmmakers talked to several people in the front office
during that period who discuss how the team kept an eye on him,
trying (mostly failing) to make him responsible. There is an honesty
present in that section that is refreshing. That kind of candor tends
to be missing from sports stories, with people more concerned with
protecting their own reputations than telling the unvarnished truth.
That approach exists in some areas of Tough
Guy,
but at least the hockey players and executives seem to be
forthcoming.
As
a biography of Bob Probert, it is alright. As a look at the culture
of the NHL at the time, it is fairly successful. It bounces
throughout his life in a way that can occasionally be difficult to
follow and his family (understandably) seems a little guarded when it
comes to talking about his many problems. All the footage and audio
of him makes this feel more insightful than it actually is. But for
hockey fans or people who remember hearing stories about him in
Detroit during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, it is definitely
worth a watch.
-Ben Pivoz