Invincible(2006)- User Reviews

Why would you want to watch a cheesy, inspirational Disney-produced football biopic when you can sit back on the couch and scream at your TV every week? Answer: Because it's a cheesy, inspirational Disney-produced football biopic. Vince Papale (Mark Whalberg) is a 30-something bartender living in Philidelphia in a time when jobs were scarce and the country was in a slum. It's this slum that causes Papale to lose his substitute job as well as his wife. The only thing he has left is his friends and the only thing they have left is the Philidelphia Eagles. Football is the only thing they can hang onto; therefore, they treat it like religion. Times haven't really changed much, have they? The Eagles were in a real slump during those few years, so someone hired a new coach named Dick Vermeil, played by Greg Kinnear with ugly hair but beautiful heart. Vermeil decides to hold open Eagle tryouts, not to actually find someone to play on the team but to get people excited and riled up about the only thing they have to live for. The entire bar crew convinces Papale, despite him not having played college football (In reality, Papale was playing in a nonprofessional league at the time, but hey it's Disney) Vermeil is very impressed with Papale's heart, determination, and speed and puts Papale on the team. There must be a woman involved and here it's Janet (Elizabeth Banks), a fellow bartender and New York Giants fan. Occassionally, I like to think of the film as a deep allegory about interracial relationships and how football represents the long class struggle our country has had. But we can forget about that for now. "Invincible" is nothing more than earnest, feel-good entertainment but it's done surprisingly well. There's a lot more poignancy and heart than most sports movies, as we examine not only the main character but his entire world. "Invincible" is very mature and doesn't sugarcoat or water down anything. It gets the clothes, hair, buildings, and just the mood and the atmosphere of that time in American history. Ericson Core, the director and cinematographer, has a real flair for filming football and non-football scenes. The football sequences are massive and epic, strong and powerful. The best-shot scene takes places during a football game in the rain, as Core lets the bodies, mud, and water collide into each other with grace AND brutality. It sounds like a cliche and maybe it is but it looks damn good. The sets and costumes evoke a sense of nostalgia and are much more vibrant and visceral than say "Gridiron Gang" or the upcoming "We Are Marshall" With "The Departed" and this, Marky Mark is really showing his chops to the industry, showing he's not just a new kid on the block. Whalberg's Papale is really someone to root for and identify with. He's not the movie hero who rises up to every challenge or quickly wins over his enemies with his sass and one-liners. No, Papale is quite shy, reserved, often nervous and who can't relate to that? His romance with Banks is sweet and gives him a chance to showcase his "not really a ladies man" persona. Banks on the other hand, is sassy and in-your-face while being the perfect girlfriend at the same time. The real gem here is Kinnear, who has also been showcased in one of the year's best films "Little Miss Sunshine". Kinnear is really an underrated actor, as he can truly force himself into any role he wants. Earlier this year, he was a nerdy, gawky dad obsessed with winning; now he's the football coach. Yes, he gives the usual pre-game pep talk but it lacks the rah-rah nature of most. Instead, Kinnear gives a genuine performance. A true testament to everyone in the cast, they all seem like real people. The events in the movie may not be exactly what happened in real life, but a few creative differences are always necessary. The only big problem I had with "Invincible" was its ending. Papale performs a remarkable play in a nonsignificant game...and it ends. The film had so much going for it and it stopped without tying everything together. "Invincible" seems like a sampler of Papale's life. I want the whole thing. I'd give this a B