How does Disney keep doing this!! I love it!!

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2006)

Miracle, The Greatest Game Ever Played and NOW THIS!! I don't even like Football but Invincible is the perfect feel good film. Right out of the gate I must say that I do not agree with it's "G" rating. How can something like The Incredibles get a PG rating for violence and intense scenes but Invincible with a love scene, a scene of someone giving the middle finger twice, and a lot of violent football scenes gets a G?? There is no justice to the MPAA. BUT that being said Invincible truly is a story about overcoming fears and heroism and the film reminded me a great deal of the closest thing to Rocky I that has ever been done and yet that's a big compliment. First and foremost this film also takes place in Phillidelphia in the seventies so the setting and time feels very familiar to Rocky fans. You have a neighborhood guy that the entire city gets behind and all their dreams are in him. I am not a football fan but you honestly don't need to be. You will still find yourself rooting for this underdog. You also have a sub-plot of a serious recession that is taking it's toll on everyone in the lower income areas of Philly. You have a "family", a group of friends so close that spend their time at a local pub and lean on each other in the rough times.
Mark Wahlberg headlines the cast as substitute teacher, and football fan Vince Papale. I was never a fan of Wahlberg's despite some decent roles but in the last couple of years he has really impressed me with roles in the fantastic Four Brothers and now this. He shows some really impressive depth and character development. This is a role he can be really proud of because it's an important role that he does great in. Greg Kinnear plays new Phillidelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil who struggles with trying to be a brilliant coach for a losing team. This is the best role I've seen Kinnear play in a very long time. I think he's a great actor but some of his roles have been questionable at best. Still I don't think the story delved into Coach Vermeil enough but for what they gave us Kinnear did terrific. Elizabeth Banks plays Wahlberg's new love interest Janet Cantrell. She plays a great role, although rather small she does the most with it. She's strikingly beautiful, and delivers some laughs in her New York Giants fan role living in Philly. Her and Wahlberg have good chemistry but with better character development it could have been GREAT chemistry. Michael Rispoli plays one of the best supporting characters Max Cantrell. He owns the bar where everyone hangs out. He's always there for everyone and is like a brother to Wahlberg's character. He stands out more than everyone else on the supporting cast because of his strong personality and screen time. The rest of the supporting cast is terrific too. Kirk Acevedo, Dov Davidoff, Michael Kelly and Sal Darigo all play small but really great roles. They all have small sub plots whether it be trouble with their wives, finding a job, being laid off and they all do such a great job of bringing you into the story. They all set a tone and that is truly what carries Invincible.
For a first time big screen director Ericson Core does an amazing job because this film really does get much of it's charm from it's direction. In many ways the film is very bleak and foreboding but that makes Wahlberg's triumph all the more important in the end. Does the film follow a stale recipe?? Sure in some ways but for most people who love to feel great at a film you won't care that you've seen this before because this is new characters, strong actors and a moving, brilliant TRUE story. I don't know how some reviewers can say the emotion felt forced, or that scenes felt tacked together because I didn't for a minute feel the emotion was forced. Quite the opposite emotions ran high from one extreme to another and the scenes on the football field added into the action and watch-ability. I only don't score it perfect because at this point it is an old recipe and I felt like there should have been more story there but they did an incredible job and right now you won't find a better film to make you feel inspired and touched in the theaters. Go see it!! 9/10