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Movie Reviews From A Family Perspective
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titles released after July 2005.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The Rock, Kyra Sedgwick. Walt Disney Pictures. Comedy.
FILM SYNOPSIS: The Game Plan tells the story of rugged superstar quarterback Joe Kingman (the Rock), whose Boston-based team is chasing a championship. A ‘serial bachelor,’ Kingman is living the ultimate fantasy: he’s rich, famous and the life of the party. But this dream is suddenly sacked for a loss when he discovers the 7-year-old daughter (newcomer Madison Pettis) he never knew he had – the product of a last fling before parting years ago with his young wife. Now, during the most important time in his career, he must figure out how to juggle his parties, practices and dates with the newfound ballet classes, bedtime stories and dolls that come with his daughter.
REVIEW: Okay, when it comes to acting, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson is no Van Johnson. Or Don Johnson. Or Arte Johnson. Still, he has a screen presence. And following Vin (The Pacifier) Diesel’s lead, the former wrestler is edging his way out of the invincible gladiator roles and into the family friendly genre. This latest is corny but cute, devoid not just of bad language and exploitive sexuality, but cynicism as well. Indeed, it pulls at the heartstrings. Actually, it plucks them with moments of sweetness that begin to gnaw at the teeth. But both the Rock and the film hold our attention. The Game Plan reminds kids and adults alike that happiness is found when we get outside ourselves. And how nice it is to view a film dads can take their little girls to. Is it a great comedy? No. But somehow, it’s a satisfying one.
PG (a couple of slapstick pratfalls and the viewing of football players getting sacked; the film does reveal the death of a parent, but the filmmakers handle the subject discreetly so as to not alarm preschoolers; that said, a parent should be there to reassure little ones; there is a party with lots of party girls in attendance, but the scene is there to show the party boy nature of the lead before he develops character; liquor is served at a party).
Running Time: 110 min.
Intended Audience: Family
GARFIELD'S TALE OF TWO KITTIES
Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billy Connolly and Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield. 20th Century Fox. Written by TBD, Based on the comic strip “Garfield” created by Jim Davis. Directed by Tim Hill. Opens 6/16/06
In England, the wise-cracking, self-absorbed comic strip cat Garfield is mistaken for a look-alike, regal feline who has inherited a castle. Garfield savors the royal treatment afforded by his loyal “subjects,” but his “reign” is in jeopardy. The nefarious Lord Dargis is determined to do away with Garfield, so he can turn the castle into a resort.
This hit-and-miss, live-action (Garfield and his double are computer generated) kid’s sequel takes freely from The Prince and the Pauper and several other mistaken-identity classics. It has a few funny moments aimed at adults, thanks to the witty Mr. Murray, but the target audience, the wee ones, became fidgety at the screening. The film’s biggest laugh came from corpulent Garfield breaking wind. (Kids and delinquent adults just love a good flatulence gag, don’t they?) The other joke that received the most response from all attendees was the reuse of the old Marx Brothers pantomime routine where unknowing look-a-likes duplicate each other’s movements as they pass what they think is a mirror. It was a funny bit (worth stealing). Then we are back to predictable humor that includes a dog urinating on a palace guard, an attack dog grabbing at a man’s crotch, talking animals given the CGI treatment around the mouth, and a couple more passing-wind sound effects.
Billy Connolly brightens up the action whenever he appears as the greedy villain bested by the animals at every turn, but the rest of the cast suffers from the attention paid to the special effects, underwhelming though they may be. It’s not a horrible movie, and Garfield does learn a life lesson about putting others first. Not as good as Shrek 2’s Puss in Boots, but not as bad as Ron Howard’s The Cat in the Hat. Children bored with playing with an empty box may enjoy it.
PG (anatomical and scatological humor; Ms. Love Hewitt, excited in one scene, uses the term “oh my god;” though this may not be a profane use of God’s name, it is a colloquialism used all too often by today’s young actors --on the Friends TV-series, the phrase was uttered several times in each episode; done for comedy, there is much slapstick involving the villain being bested by the animals; he is punched by the hero; he is grabbed in the crotch a couple of times by a vicious dog; he attempts to train the dog to kill).
The classic cartoon series is now available on DVD. All 17 episodes are featured on a 2-disk set. Full of Jay Ward’s blend of sight gags and sophisticated humor, George of the Jungle has to do with a good-hearted, but clumsy jungle dweller, his wife Ursula and their “dog,” Shep the elephant. The shows are complete with episodes of Tom Slick, the coolest race care driver this side of Frostbite Falls, and Super Chicken, who’s always there to save the day when “fowl” play’s afoot! (I always related to Super Chicken. Okay, I have issues.)
There’s only one problem with George of the Jungle. Once you are reminded of that title song, you can’t get it out of your head all day. “George, George, George of the Jungle, friend to you and me.” See, you’re gonna hate me by late this afternoon.
With the voice talents of June Foray, Bill Scott, Daws Butler and Paul Frees, the combined running length is 374 minutes. Bonus features: Never before seen pilot episodes of George of the Jungle and Super Chicken.
Jane
Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney, Cary Elwes, Garrett
Hedlund. Universal. Drama. Written by Mark Andrus. Directed by Garry Marshall.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Rebellious teenager Rachel (Lohan) is taken by her mother to stay with her grandmother. It becomes apparent quickly that these are all members of a dysfunctional family. Granny is distant, mom’s an alcohol who hates her mother, and the little rebel is promiscuous and reveals that her stepfather began sexually abusing her when she was twelve.
Is this true or is the teenager making up the story to get back at her mother? You have to stick around to the end, putting up with incessant bad behavior before learning the truth. The film has all three women revealing family secrets before they bond and find redemption.
REVIEW: Incest is at the core of this production. It’s hinted at, not just with Rachel and her step-dad, but it is also ever-so slightly implied that the dead grandpa may have been a child abuser, as well. It’s kind of an R-rated Lifetime for Women movie – you know, where men are bad and woman are confused.
While the arts should be used to explore human relationships and expose wrongdoings, incest is a difficult subject to sit through on a date, while eating popcorn. And though the actresses do a nice job, and it is witty with occasional insight, how many films do we have to sit through where quirky and dysfunctional families are the source of comic and melodramatic strife? In the last two years, we’ve been subjected to this topic in countless theatrical releases, including Babel, Click, Deck the Halls, Firehouse Dog, Flicka, A Good Year, Keeping Mum, Little Miss Sunshine, Miss Potter, Nanny McPhee, Pearl Diver, The Quiet, Running with Scissors, RV, Santa Claus 3, The Shaggy Dog, Madea’s Family Reunion, Winter Passing, Are We Done Yet?, Because I Said So, Curse of the Golden Flower, Daddy’s Little Grils, Disturbia, The Ex, In the Land of Women, The Lookout, The Last Sin Eater, Norbit, TMNT, The Ultimate Gift and Vacancy. Enough with the family strife, already. “Hollywood, let’s get another genre to beat to death. How about comic book superheroes?” Oh, right.
R (graphic sexual discussions; five or six obscene words, mostly from the Lindsey Lohan character; at lest three profane uses of God’s name, along with the expression “oh my God” several times; a woman hits a man with a ball bat; there are several sexual innuendos; a young woman removes her panties, revealing herself to another actor; she gets the religious young man, a virgin, to touch her; we later learn she performed oral sex; the young man feels guilty; we do not see the nudity in this scene, but one scene is very sexually suggestive; there are many conversations about sex, including incest; a woman is an alcoholic, we see her drunk several times; this is not meant to glorify drinking, but rather show the destructiveness of abusive drinking).
Running Time: 113 min.
Intended Audience: Older teens and adults.
In 1966 Don “the Bear” Haskins, coach of the little known Texas Western basketball team, caused an uproar by starting five black players in the NCAA championships. This is their story.
Cocky underdogs, tough coaches, last second scores; basketball movies are as alike as, well, football movies. But every so often, one comes along with a message, a performance or a subplot that raises it above the norm. Indeed, the good ones usually provide a metaphor for life (Hoop Dreams, Hoosiers, Coach Carter). I’m not sure I’d put it alongside Hoosiers, but Glory Road has a valuable message (how to fight ignorance), strong performances (a nice job here by each of the ensemble cast), and a revealing story pertinent to our times. What's more, someone at sometime said, “Let’s make this family-friendly.”
Devoid of crudity or exploitive sexuality, the film centers on its messages – how to overcome bigotry and how to play the game of life.
PG The N-word is used several times, as well as the derogatory word cracker, but they are used to show ignorance and frustration; I caught no misuse of God’s name; a man is beaten by bigots; the guys make a comment concerning pretty women; team members are seen drinking in a bar; the subject of bigotry is addressed.
Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel. Touchstone. Written by Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais. Directed by Danny Cannon. Opens 5/12/06
When Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) is given the chance of a lifetime, he must leave his family, his life in Los Angeles and everything that he knows to travel halfway around the globe to England and into a completely foreign world – the fast-paced and glamorous world of international soccer. As an underprivileged Mexican-American immigrant growing up in the poor section of Los Angeles, Santiago seemed destined to follow his father’s path in life: laboring at menial jobs to earn just enough money to support his family. But when a British scout (Stephen Dillane) discovers his talent and gets him a tryout with one of England’s premier soccer clubs, Newcastle United, Santiago must choose between his father’s fate and his own destiny. Now alone in a world where soccer is a religion and players are gods, this underdog must prove that he’s got the talent and determination to make it amongst the best in the world. The film features cameos from the soccer’s hottest superstars, like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Raul, and Newcastle captain Alan Shearer.
I can’t think of any other genre whose films are more analogous than the sports movie. The format is always about an underdog, one with a disapproving relative, usually a grumpy father, this dream-smiter being offset by a rough-hewn mentor, then there’s the bully teammate who comes to respect our protagonist and finally, the final game whose inspiring winning moment comes down to the last seconds. They’re all the same. That said, these cookie-cutter adventures can be entertaining when they feature involving storytelling, well-photographed athletic matches, and most importantly, a lead performer with charisma. I found those qualities in Goal! The Dream Begins.
When it comes to sports movies, we filmgoers want to see the good guy overcome his obstacles. It gives us hope. “If he can make it, so can I.” Anything wrong with that message?
Goal! The Dream Begins (kind of a giveaway title) has the lead, an underprivileged Mexican illegal, forced to live his father’s dream until a scout sees him play soccer (that’s football in England, where our story travels). He is a solid citizen, if an unlawful one, who escaped his days in poverty, then from the hood, and ultimately reveals a respect for his Catholic beliefs and a regard for self and others. Aided by a supportive grandmother and a man whose own dreams have vanished, the young athlete goes on to display courage, determination and principle.
I enjoyed the film thoroughly, but here is what gave me the most satisfaction. A young boy, sitting in the row ahead of me, lifted his arms in triumph at the final score. He was completely captivated. He had been inspired. Not a bad goal for a film with that word in the title.
Sports video supplements: The Basket, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Glory Road, Cinderella Man (caution with that one due to the language; read our review, first), The Rookie, National Velvet – to name a few.
PG (5 or 6 obscenities, but I caught no misuse of God’s name; a couple of players are injured on the soccer field; it is implied that the “bad” boy star of the team is sleeping with different women; we see him wake up in bed with a sleeping woman. No graphic sexuality is seen; women are seen in provocative attire in a couple of the nightclub scenes; women are seen in one scene at poolside in brief attire; several scenes feature people drinking at night clubs, but not the lead; the film deals with the loss of a parent.
David Stratharin, George Clooney. Warner Independent Pictures. Opens 10/21/05
Set in the 1950s, the documentary-tinged drama focuses on a famed TV reporter who, at the height of his power, used his position to fight what he considered a threat to America – Joe McCarthy. While I suspect my comrades in criticism will spend the majority of their reviews focusing on its formidable artistic merits rather than the filmmaker’s political assessments, I found its partisan nature worrisome. Here we’ll examine not just how the subject is being stated, but the statement itself.
Let’s get right to it. Not since Leni Riefenstahl’s “Triumph of the Will” has a film been so unabashedly employed as a tool for indoctrination. A likely Oscar contender, with a superb, understated performance by David Strathairn as Edward R. Morrow and flawless direction by co-star George Clooney, the story ostensibly tells of renowned newsman Morrow’s televised verbal war against Senator Joseph McCarthy. But Clooney’s agenda becomes glaringly apparent as he avoids any commentary other than his own social viewpoint of America’s political history. He’s not just making assertions concerning politicians and mores of decades past, but a thinly disguised one about any naysayer of today’s liberalism.
Indoctrinated by years of one-sided cinematic portraits of communist-outing during the 1950s, filmgoers born post black & white TV may have a jaundiced perspective of America’s fight against communism during that period. Due to the elapsing of time and the obscuring of the subject matter during our matriculation period, we now live in a time when most young people have no real concept of the world’s battle against Nazism, let alone the succeeding one with communism.
The 1950s are often painted in today’s cinema as a passive, downright dull time in America’s evolution. According to many filmmakers born in the 1970s, the ‘50s were years of boring tranquility, when there was nothing more on the minds of U.S. citizens than Milton Berle and Swanson’s. What these storytellers invariably neglect to pass along is the fact that WWII was still fresh in the minds of the greatest generation. The Bible points out that there’s a time for war and a time for peace. That generation had every right to expect their time of peace. Hitler and Tojo had interrupted and, in most cases, altered their lives. They had seen the steady rise of Nazism and were horrified that such evil could overtake an entire nation, and nearly a world. What began as a political philosophy, one given uncensored exposition, the Nazi movement became one Germans clung to because it seemed to offer a solution to the financial woes and the directionlessness of their homeland. Soon, however, that fraudulent ideal turned into a monstrous menace. The Nazi movement spread and suddenly those who objected to it found themselves not just blacklisted, but incarcerated and/or eliminated. Nazism was pure evil. It was born out of an unholy alliance and breed by ignorance and complacency.
Today, communism seems a joke as we’ve come to see its practitioners offer little solution to the world’s needs. Though in theory it may contain some merit, in practice it fails every time. I understand some in Cuba may argue that statement. But those who sail rafts to the shores of Florida generally support my contention with gusto.
Communism, like its insidious cousin totalitarianism, was also born out of an unholy alliance. And during its infancy, it spread even faster than fascism. Yes, many in America feared communism. But it was not an unfounded fear as opponents of “McCarthyism” would suggest. Ah, that’s where the argument begins, doesn’t it? Some felt that America’s democratic stronghold was too dominant to be undermined by the growing Communist party. Nor were they alarmed by its members taking positions in industries that wielded influence. But others were apprehensive of political stances that threatened democracy. As time has justified, communistic allegiances had formed in the entertainment industry, as well as the education community. And it can be argued that today’s liberalism is simply about the individual being as important as the majority. Admittedly, that stance has merit – if the individual’s rights are ignored, will it not soon have detrimental effect on the masses? There’s a fine line between protecting the individual and protecting the entirety.
It’s difficult to defend Joseph McCarthy. Though he may have been right, his methods seemed malicious and self-serving. And Clooney is adroit at using vintage footage of the senator as testimony that he was his own worst enemy. It would have been better had he not been the poster boy for the anti-communist battle. But over the years, those who feel the outing of communists during that era was a threat to individual liberty have focused on McCarthy’s tactics rather than his arguments.
Ann Coulter defends the senator in her book, TREASON: “Despite the fevered associations of Joe McCarthy with Hollywood blacklists, ruined lives, destroyed reputations, broken careers, suicides, divorce, and depression, McCarthy’s campaign was somewhat more limited in scope. McCarthy’s contribution to “McCarthyism” consisted exclusively of his investigation of loyalty risks working for the federal government…His campaign lasted only a few years, from 1950 to 1953, until liberals immobilized him in 1954 with their Army-McCarthy hearings and censure investigation. He conducted his investigations from the Senate Permanent Sub-committee on Investigations, the express mandate of which was – surprisingly enough – to investigate the federal government. As we now know, McCarthy was not terrorizing people purposelessly. His targets were Soviet sympathizers and Soviet spies.” (pp. 55-56).
As a nation we should shudder at the thought of any one political party governing our institutions. While we may disagree with political opponents, we need the thinking of both sides to keep power in check. Viewing “Good Night, And Good Luck,” it becomes disturbingly clear that the media has succeeded in becoming a community controlled by one viewpoint.
Though I disagree with the political views of, say, Barbra Streisand or Mr. Clooney, I have admired and advertised their artistic achievements throughout the years. I have never sought a banning of people because they possessed conflicting ideas or ideals. (Funny, I thought that was liberalism.) Yet, time and again I hear stories from up-and-comers in the entertainment industry about their conservative nature being the cause of their being neglected. A paranoid reasoning for not getting a part? Explain then why the majority of cast credits on nearly every film are monopolized by artists who prefer the Democratic Party to that of the Republican?
That said, I do not think this film need be avoided. It is smart and entertaining. As for its viewpoint, well, thought-provoking beliefs should be allowed on film. If you should attend, however, keep in mind that you are viewing a one-sided argument. What’s more, it’s an argument fueled more with concern for utopian ideas than facts.
To discern the media’s misconceptions and misdirections, we must be grounded in scriptural teaching. Along with guidance from thoughtful theologians who study the social and political landscape, we gain communal foresight by personally studying scripture. The Bible is a guidepost for living a lifestyle that keeps us in harmony with the Heavenly Father and with our fellow man.
PG (two profane uses of God’s name; adult subject matter, themes not aimed at children; a suicide occurs off-screen; lots of drinking and smoking).
Carly Schroeder, Elisabeth Shue, Dermot Mulroney. Picturehouse. Sports drama.
Written by Lisa Marie Petersen, Karen Janszen. Directed by Davis Guggenheim.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Set in 1978, Gracie is an inspirational film about a teenage girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer at a time when girls’ soccer did not exist. Based on true events from the lives of the Shue family (producer and co-star Andrew Shue, Academy Award-nominated actress Elisabeth Shue, the film is directed by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), who happens to be part of the family, being married to Elisabeth Shue.
Fifteen-year-old Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only girl in the family of three brothers. Their family life revolves almost entirely around soccer: her father (Dermot Mulroney) and brothers are obsessed with the sport, practicing in the backyard’s makeshift field every day from morning ‘til night. Tragedy unexpectedly strikes when Gracie’s older brother Johnny (Jesse Lee Soffer), star of the high school varsity soccer team and Gracie’s only protector, is killed in a car accident. Struggling with grief over her family’s loss, Gracie decides to fill the void left on her brother’s team by petitioning the school board to allow her to play on the boys’ team in his place. Her father, a former soccer star himself, tries to prove to Gracie that she is not tough enough or talented enough to play with boys. Her mother, Lindsey Bowen (Elisabeth Shue), already an outsider in the sports-obsessed family, is no help either. Undeterred, Gracie proves herself and manages to bring her family together in the face of their tragedy.
REVIEW: There have been several female celebrities of late in trouble with the law and seemingly lost emotionally. My theory, for what it’s worth, is that if a young girl has a supportive, healthy relationship with her dad, she won’t be looking for love and acknowledgement in all the wrong places. This movie points that out. The lead’s father, more comfortable with his sons, doesn’t know how to talk to or show affection for his daughter. And when her beloved older brother dies, she feels adrift. So, the movie is about more than a girl wanting to play a man’s sport. It’s about fathers and daughters. The film has a lot to say and it handles the subject not with much subtlety, but certainly with sincerity.
The only trouble for me is that I don’t get soccer, period. Let alone why a girl would want to play it. I guess I’d have a difficult time sending my little girl out to play a sport I knew would injure her. I’m afraid I’d have been one of the bad guys, I’d have said no. But, as I said, the film isn’t really about this sport, but about communicating your love for your child.
Carly Schroeder (Firewall, Prey) shows spunk and determination and though I’m not an expert, her ability with a soccer ball seems genuine. The pacing is good, but the filming of the actual “big” game is less than convincing. It’s not a great sports film, but the filmmakers have made a solid goal with its message.
PG-13 (Considering this is a film concerning male-dominated teenage sports, the filmmaker avoids crude language usually associated with the genre; three or four uses of the s-word and six or more expletives; I caught no misuse of God’s name or Christ’s; some soccer-related injuries, with teammates knocking Gracie to the ground, once bloodying her nose; we learn of the son dying in a car crash, but the scene is not depicted; at odds with her parents, Gracie looks for attention by dressing provocatively, sneaking out and breaking as many rules as she can, including stealing, smoking and nearly having sex with a boy she has a crush on; a couple of sexual discussions, but the filmmakers are not attempting to be exploitive, but to send a message that a child will break the rules when the rules are not accompanied by a parent’s love; though there is no price paid for stealing, it is implied that this is a road the lead does not travel once she feels her father’s love).
Running Time: 92 min.
Intended Audience: Family
Not rated.
New on DVD, the 89 minute drama stars Chris Heuisler (As the World Turns, Freaky Friday) and two-time Emmy® Award-winner Kimberly McCullough (General Hospital, Joan of Arcadia, Legally Blonde) star in the film, which shot on location in Santa Barbara County . The film also stars M. Emmet Walsh (My Best Friend’s Wedding, A Time to Kill), Brad Raider (That Was Then, The Trouble With Normal), Kevin Durand (Walking Tall, The Butterfly Effect), Curtis Armstrong (Revenge of the Nerds, Better Off Dead). Written by Hector Hill. Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel.
FLM SYNOPSIS:JP Barton is an adopted boy raised on a throwback Vermont family resort (though it is shot in CA). Since being found as an infant by the mercurial aging owner, JP has essentially never left the resort grounds. But with the arrival of a young, free-spirited New York artist, Alice Flynn, his sheltered life is suddenly turned upside down. Her arrival, plus a convergence of events, propels JP on a bumpy ride of self-discovery. It’s not until JP accepts who he is, that he realizes what’s most important to him. Greener Mountains is a story of finding out where you belong in the world and discovering that who you are is often more than enough.
REVIEW: Four-time Emmy-nominated director Lee Shallat-Chemel (Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development, Bernie Mac- they give Emmys to those shows?) marks her feature film directorial debut – and it feels it. Though the director is skilled, the production is limited, feeling more like a Hallmark Hall Of Fame special. Not that there’s anything wrong with Hallmark. They’ve done many impressive dramas over the years, but too often TV productions lack detail and focus visually apparent on the big screen. Characters and themes are often clichéd – something theatrical directors are supposed to avoid. (I said, supposed to avoid.) Though it is being released on DVD, still it is competing with theatrical releases and should therefore avoid the trappings of television.
The story deals with following your dreams even when everything and everyone seems to be conspiring against them. And the film is filled with pretty locales. But there are two problems. I didn’t like the main character, who’s dumber than dirt and insensitive to others, and the old lady at one point attempts to impart wisdom by telling the young man that if you’re going to find purpose in religion, it doesn’t matter which one you choose – “they’re all just a guess.” The focus of the production then turns to finding true happiness through loving someone.
It’s steeped in clichés and overused characterizations such as villainous deceptions (the bad guy wants to take over the place in order to make money – something I’m not opposed to, except that he’s willing to kill the old lady in order to do it) and simple misunderstandings (the beloved girl hears only part of a conversation – the part that makes the hero look like a duffus, missing the part that makes him sound like a true romantic and a good guy – well, we’ve never seen that before).
Waterfall Films is a Los Angeles-based independent production company “focused on creating film and television programming for a multi-generational audience.” Note to Waterfall Films: Don’t like religion? Okay, that’s your business. But why imply that faith in God isn’t important? What did that have to do with the rest of your story? And why profane God’s name or use Jesus’ name as if it were a mere expletive for relieving frustration? You work in television; didn’t you think some viewers might object to profaning the Creator’s name? There are those who would enjoy your production if you didn’t belittle their religious beliefs. Since you want to gear your productions toward multi-generational audience, here’s what you need to decide: You can try to convince a country that is still predominately Christian that we don’t need to reverence the Almighty, or, you can make more money by offering your product to people who will take to your dramas if you don’t come across as anti-God. Choice is yours.
Not rated, the production contains a couple of obscenities (the s-word) and is peppered with minor expletives (damns, hells, ass) and a couple of profanities (GD, Jesus); an implied sex scene; a character dying of cancer; some social drinking and a drunk scene.
The Rock, Xzibit, Vanessa Ferlito, Leon Rippy, Kevin Dunn. Sony Pictures.
Drama/sports. Written by Jeff Maguire. Directed by Phil Joanou.
A detention camp probation officer creates a high-school-level football team from a ragtag group of dangerous teenage inmates as a means to teach them self-respect and social responsibility. Of course, our hero must first overcome universal resistance from his skeptical bosses and the coaches at rival high schools who don’t want their players mixing it up with convicted criminals on the football field.
Despite every cliché known to the genre, Gridiron Gang is an engrossing boys-to-men football adventure. What makes it work? The Rock. By now we have discovered that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson isn’t just another incredible hulk. He’s a fine actor, sensitive and with a self-effacing sense of humor. Here he is more than believable as the tough but concerned officer/coach/mentor.
There are positive lessons aimed at young urban males concerning the sanctity of life and the need to break from the abuse that often surrounds them. (This has been a recurring theme in many films this year.) The on-field action scores for the intended audience with its constant crunching sounds and slo-mo visuals of assaultive tackles. And the film’s violence is included to further the story rather than for exploitive purposes. Alas, one problem: the language. It’s difficult to escape its inclusion, as rough language is an element of life for many coming from the hood and evidently nearly every filmmaker. But filmmakers should remember that it’s simply not artistic for those who consider themselves artists to excessively use obscene language simply because it’s an easy way to express frustration. And there is no excuse for the coach, the leader of these young men, to be profaning God’s name, which The Rock does throughout.
If you do not wish to support a film where the lead character misuses both God’s name and Christ’s, then allow me to suggest an alternative: Invincible (still in theaters at the time of this review). Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale and Dick Vermeil, the new head coach of the Philly Eagles, it’s the best sports film I’ve seen since The Rookie. The football sequences are involving, as are the lead performances. Invincible’s positive themes include caring and sacrificing for others, and following the impossible dream.
PG-13 (around 30 uses of the s-word, one of the f-word, 3or four of SOB and a few I won’t even mention here; also there is an excessive number of expletives (damns, hells and the like); the N-word is used several times, once by a white guy, but mostly by Blacks; 4 misuses of Christ’s name and 5 uses of God’s name followed by a curse; several shootings, with four characters being gunned down; protecting his abused mother, a teen shoots and kills her boyfriend; there are several fight scenes; though this action is brutal, it’s there to depict the rough world these kids come from; we do see several cheerleaders in revealing costumes; a couple of crude comments as the inmates refer to scantily clad women; there’s a positive portrayal of a Christian. He’s a coach and when reminded of Christ’s directive to have mercy, he supports the convicted teens).
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