We've all seen this story before. There is no new ground to tread. It always seems like these inspirational films are the same story, only the names and places are different. It doesn't seem to matter if they are based on a true story, or completely constructed in the writer's head, the end result is always the same. This movie is a cliche, sure it's based on a true story, but that doesn't make this story any less cliche than the made up tales.
Simply being cliche does not necessarily make a movie bad. The story can be told in such a way, or the characters written/acted in such a way, so a sense of freshness can be somewhat faked. I don't mean faked in a bad way, but there has to be some sort of manipulation on the part of the creative to make you want to spend your money and sit in a dark theater for two hours. That begs the question, is Gridiron Gang creative enough to be worth spending that time? My answer is yes.
This tale is the story of Sean Porter, a probation officer at a juvenile detention center, Camp Kilpatrick. Porter is struggling with the fact that 75% of those troubled youths passing through their doors end up dead or back in jail. Looking for some way to possibly make a dent, Porter decides to start up a football program.
The reasoning behind starting a football team is it will help teach teamwork, respect, and hard work. Everything these kids could use to better their lives if they translate the ideals into real life experience. So, Sean Porter and his assistant Malcolm Moore, select a team from those under their care, much to the dismay of their superiors who seem to have written these kids off.
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Article comments
1 - gentletouchee
for some reason, maybe you liked this fil because of the actor's bodies?
2 - gentletouchee
for some reason, maybe you liked this movie because of the actor's bodies?
3 - Chris Beaumont
Nope, can't say that had any sway with me. Perhaps it was the positive story of someone trying to make a difference in these kids lives, and that it was decently shot and acted.
4 - Jim Gleeson
I liked this movie for a couple of reasons. First of all let me say this: I am not a "sports fan" by any stretch of the imagination. If I ever get married no woman will ever say "please stop watching that football game and pay attention to me."
That being said, the primary reason I liked this movie is that sometimes a cliche becomes such is because its a formula that works well. I think anyone wants to see someone rise above adversity and do well, or turn their life around just as much as we want to see the villian buy it in the end.
I think what made the movie work is that despite the cliche aspects, it was plausible. I could really believe the reason why the football idea was started. But we also know the unspoken reason why as well: Sean Porter was/is a football coach. It is what he knows.
Secondly, despite the angry and dark mooded kids in the movie who seem to all learn to grimace and frown from the Ice Cube school of looking generally dismayed, you really wanted these kids to reach for something better, so the characters were people we could get behind.
Because of that we could look past the times Sean Porter was out with his mother and they discussed how proud she was of him. We didn't cry foul when the championship team seemed to be populated with dumb rednecks who seemed to where white with pointed hats when sitting at home. Because that in the end was all on the side.