Gridiron
Gang is the second football flick to open in the last month, but this Rock vehicle
isn't nearly as rousing or effective as Disney's Invincible. Odd considering this
movie feels more important at the surface.
Gridiron
Gang is the true story of Sean Porter, an officer from a youth correctional facility
who would use football to turn inner city kids away from gang culture.
Gridiron
Gang is a well intentioned affair that proudly wears it's heart on it's sleeve.
Sadly though, the movie is pretty heavy handed. Yes, the problems this flick addresses
are real and yes, it's admirable that one man would try to make a difference,
but as a narrative Gridiron Gang feels preachy and, at times, extremely underdeveloped.
The
Rock is entertaining, and to see him take on a more dramatic role is interesting.
As much as I like him, he does stumble in the more emotional scenes. Clearly,
this ex-wrestler appears a little stiff and uncomfortable when asked to tear up.
He's not quite seasoned enough to pull off these weighty moments. He is, however,
terrific when he's yelling and riling up the troops, and during one sequence,
we even get to see this mammoth don a football uniform. How would you like to
see the Rock coming at you full speed on the field? Not I.
The
young actors who make up the team are solid enough. In particular, I was impressed
by Jade Yorker who plays Willie Weathers, one of the team's star players. Looking
like a tiny Andre from Outkast, Yorker hits the right notes as a young man learning
to channel his rage into something positive. Setu Taase is also effective as Junior
Palaita, a new father out to better himself for the good of his wife and child.
Gridiron
Gang was directed by Phil Joanou, a film maker poised for great things in the
late 80's and early 90's. He made the underrated high school comedy Three O' Clock
High as well as the U2 tour film Rattle and Hum. He followed those entries up
with the stunning crime thriller State of Grace starring Sean Penn. Then, he more
or less disappeared into obscurity after making a few films that hardly anyone
saw (Final Analysis, Heaven's Prisoners, etc.). Gridiron Gang marks Joanou's triumphant
return to the movies, and for what it's worth, his direction is solid. The football
sequences are well staged, and the film is edgy. Sadly though, the screenplay
doesn't really measure up to Joanou's considerable talent.
While
Gridiron Gang has heftier issues than the recent Invincible, it isn't as effective
of a film. I would have preferred a documentary about Porter's program. That would
have been much more powerful. And in fact, the strongest moments in Gridiron Gang
occur during the end credits as we are treated to stock footage of the real Sean
Porter in action.
In
the end, Gridiron Gang isn't without it's inspirational moments, and it offers
up a side of The Rock that we really haven't seen before. But as a narrative,
it's heavy handed mechanics undermine it's overall importance. I hope the DVD
release offers up more stock footage, because I could have watched that stuff
for hours.
