GRIDIRON GANG
starring: the rock, xzibit, leon rippy...
director: phil joanou
writer: jeff maguire and jac flanders
date: 10/02/06
reviewer: Clarkey
rating: 7.5
There is a simple formula that was used to create this movie: take the football scenes from Friday Night Lights, and the gangs and street violence issues of Boyz ‘N the Hood with a touch of the predictability of the Little Giants, and you got yourself the latest football movie based on a true story. The story was good, don’t get me wrong. It was inspiring, (well if it wasn’t then it would’ve been made into a movie). However, it’s the same underdog sports story that has become redundant in the last few years. The criminals who nobody gives a chance because they could never work together as a team become a team by the halfway point and turn their season around in time to make the playoffs. This film is almost like a juvenile version of The Longest Yard, except they don’t play the guards or teachers (well there is one scene). Although predictable, the story was inspiring enough not to hate the whole movie.
There were many positives in this film, including the performance of Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, who delivers in my mind his best performance to date. He becomes Sean Porter, who was the man behind this amazing story. Johnson also shows us that he can act in a non-action flick. Most people know that it is a pet peeve when rappers or singers try to act, but Xzibit has proved me wrong and was solid in the film, although his character didn’t really have much range. As for the kids who made up the team, they were good, especially the little guy who played Bug and the dude that played Junior. Also, props go to L. Scott Caldwell (better known to many of us as Rose from Lost) who was great as Sean’s dying mother.
Now to the good stuff: the football scenes. They were awesome. I would rank them right up there with Friday Night Lights. Everybody in the theatre will feel the hits, just like the players. The scenes put the audience right into the games and will knock them on their asses. The training scenes were decent, but have been done better before (i.e. Remember the Titans and Rudy).
Despite the predictability factor of the story, this film has the heart to make it as a good movie with a great lead performance by The Rock, great football scenes and a truly inspiring story. Everybody should see it for the inspirational themes, but fans of The Rock or football, should definitely see it.
director: phil joanou
writer: jeff maguire and jac flanders
date: 10/02/06
reviewer: Clarkey
rating: 7.5
There is a simple formula that was used to create this movie: take the football scenes from Friday Night Lights, and the gangs and street violence issues of Boyz ‘N the Hood with a touch of the predictability of the Little Giants, and you got yourself the latest football movie based on a true story. The story was good, don’t get me wrong. It was inspiring, (well if it wasn’t then it would’ve been made into a movie). However, it’s the same underdog sports story that has become redundant in the last few years. The criminals who nobody gives a chance because they could never work together as a team become a team by the halfway point and turn their season around in time to make the playoffs. This film is almost like a juvenile version of The Longest Yard, except they don’t play the guards or teachers (well there is one scene). Although predictable, the story was inspiring enough not to hate the whole movie.
There were many positives in this film, including the performance of Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, who delivers in my mind his best performance to date. He becomes Sean Porter, who was the man behind this amazing story. Johnson also shows us that he can act in a non-action flick. Most people know that it is a pet peeve when rappers or singers try to act, but Xzibit has proved me wrong and was solid in the film, although his character didn’t really have much range. As for the kids who made up the team, they were good, especially the little guy who played Bug and the dude that played Junior. Also, props go to L. Scott Caldwell (better known to many of us as Rose from Lost) who was great as Sean’s dying mother.
Now to the good stuff: the football scenes. They were awesome. I would rank them right up there with Friday Night Lights. Everybody in the theatre will feel the hits, just like the players. The scenes put the audience right into the games and will knock them on their asses. The training scenes were decent, but have been done better before (i.e. Remember the Titans and Rudy).
Despite the predictability factor of the story, this film has the heart to make it as a good movie with a great lead performance by The Rock, great football scenes and a truly inspiring story. Everybody should see it for the inspirational themes, but fans of The Rock or football, should definitely see it.
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