Genre
Biography | Drama | Sport
Director
David Anspaugh
Country
USA
Cast
Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton, Robert Prosky, Jason Miller, Lili Taylor, Mitch Rouse, Chelcie Ross, Ron Dean, John Beasley, Vince Vaughn, Rudy Ruettiger
Storyline
Rudy (Sean Astin) has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.
Opinion
Here I am reviewing another inspirational, motivational, feel-good sport film. And here I am saying basically the same things over and over again. Like that "Rudy" is a highly clichéd and predictable underdog tale that is slightly uplifting. But it's also boring.
This is your typical underdog defeating the world kind of story but there really isn't anything else going on other than that. It's all about Rudy, a guy who just wants to play college football, and it's another true story. And like I said before is tremendously predictable. But that's the same with most of the films of this genre.
Something unusual this film does is putting the sport aside. The film indeed focuses on all the things the title character has to do to fulfill his dream and the actual football and playing football takes a back seat. This is a good thing because sport scenes always look fake in movies, but if you want to see a film about football you may want to avoid it.
The film's biggest flaw is the character. While Rudy is a guy one is supposed to like and relate to - which is basically what always happens in these films -, to my surprise the film didn't give me enough to care about the character. And eventually the film didn't really have an emotional impact on me.
The acting isn't very inspired either. While Sean Astin does a fairly good job as the leading character, the supporting cast delivers shallow, flat performances.
I know what you mean about the cliche inspirational story. I am with you about the broing part. It's rare when it really grabs my attention
ReplyDeleteI adore this movie. It came out when I was young and it played on TV all the time. I was also raised to be obsessed with college football. The lore of Notre Dame football is strong in that world. Rudy is a clichéd film, but it's really one of the best of the "sports movie" genre, mostly due to the huge triumphant moments like the jerseys "for Rudy" scene and the final scene, of course. I also think it's a handsomely shot movie, and I really dig Charles S. Dutton and Jon Favreau in their supporting parts.
ReplyDeleteIt is cliched, but for me, it's the best kind of cliched. I mean I know what the film is doing to me and it never surprises me, but it gets me anyway. Every time. It's one of my favorite sports movies.
ReplyDeleteIt is cliched, but for me, it's the best kind of cliched. I mean I know what the film is doing to me and it never surprises me, but it gets me anyway. Every time. It's one of my favorite sports movies.
ReplyDelete