When a sports movie says, "Based on a true story" what the hell does that mean? Because a movie is based on a true story doesn't mean it's a good story. On the other hand, there are movies that have both qualities. Whereas the Hollywood execs needed to die down the pomp and circumstance in Gridiron Gang, they peppered Invincible up just right.
The Rock and "X to the Z" Xzibit as football coaches is the biggest farce from being true. "Gridiron Gang" is kind of like a juvenile version of "The Longest Yard." The only major differences are that "Gridiron Gang" is "based on a true story", instead of playing the guards the football players play legitimate high school teams, and the convict's team has cat-fighting juvenile girls as their cheerleaders rather than Tracy Morgan and his posse in drag.
The true story is an extraordinary accomplishment about a man who takes a bunch of young cons who are locked up in JUVY and turns them into respectable teammates. However, the long two hour movie doesn't work.
I loved seeing the Rock in "The Rundown" and even the B-action flick "The Scorpion King," but after each word or two (and that's all he said in each scene) I got the impression that he wasn't involved in the movie, but only into himself. It was as if he was saying, "Hi, I'm the Rock and I'm going to be the next wrestler turned action star turned politician of your state." Having a rapper as your assistant coach doesn't help either.
The players are just there. They have no individuality or character. Number 13 looks like a younger version of Andre 3000, but aside from that, I didn't feel empathy for any of the teammates.
The most bothersome aspect of "Gridiron Gang" was the football coverage. I see better coverage watching a regular high school game on my local television channels. There's nothing cinematically phenomenal or pleasing to say the least.
"Invincible," a football movie that has been out for the last few weeks is not just based on a true story, but Hollywood made the story of the Philadelphia Eagle's Cinderella Man into a good one too. From the first hike, the action scenes are blunt-force-trauma in-your-face and move all around the 35, 40, and 50-yard line.
Mark Wahlberg is no longer Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch in my mind, he's a legitimate actor that knows when to step away from the spotlight and let the football game speak for itself.
"Gridiron Gang" has many large ballads during the montages and games, but in "Invincible" there is a great classic rock soundtrack. Sports movies, no matter if they're based on true events or not, need to be entertaining and amusing no matter what, and can't put you to sleep with elevator music.
I give Gridiron Gang ** out of 5 Roses and Invincible **** out of 5 Roses.
Reach the reporter at: monis.rose@asu.edu.
