INVINCIBLE: Refreshingly Not "Schmaltzy" & Entertaining... But Nothing Spectacular

Rating: 7/10 (30 August 2006)

INVINCIBLE
Here we have Disney offering up another family-friendly, inspirational movie about football in the tradition of REMEMBER THE TITANS. This time it tells the story of Vincent Papale (played by Mark Whalberg), an average-joe bartender in Philadelphia who manages to land a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles by attending an open call. After making it into training with the losing sports team, Papale must fight to keep up with the pros and prove he not only has what it takes to earn a spot on the team... but he has what it takes to make them winners.
INVINCIBLE follows the many clichés one can expect from a sports movie like this. Every character has a redemption, everything feels uplifting, and everything is going to work out in the end with a climactic football game. However, INVINCIBLE manages to utilize all those clichés without ever getting overtly sappy.
The usual downfall of an "uplifting" movie is that it constantly teeters back and forth between schmaltzy and genuinely compelling territory. INVINCIBLE manages to remain on the "genuinely compelling" side longer then the "schmaltzy" side and a great deal of that belongs to the director and his star.
Ericson Core, in his feature-film directorial debut, manages to find camera tricks that capture the football field in ways I've never seen before. Especially compelling is his opening scan over a crowded snowy parking lot as the camera makes it's way over to the field. Aside from interesting camera-work, Core manages to keep the tone realistic at most times, keeping his actors from over-emoting or playing scenes for maximum emotional impact. There's a subtlety here that kept me from every feeling manipulated... for example, we're spared the cliché final monologue of motivational excess.
Mark Whalberg proves again that he is a better actor then many people give him credit for. He has always excelled at playing an honest everyman with honest aspirations for success. He did it in BOOGIE NIGHTS, ROCK STAR (yes, I liked it), and now here. Whalberg's acting style mixes perfectly with Core's tone. Whalberg has never been an actor who seems to be overplaying his emotions... as a matter of fact, he often underplays them in this film. Letting all his anger, all his happiness remain very internal. As a result, Whalberg's Papale feels more like a real person then a puppet used to draw tears from it's audience.
Nonetheless, despite it's quality production, INVINCIBLE remains incredibly predictable. And though it succeeds at never over-playing it's emotions... it also doesn't manage to really thrill the audience either. I found myself entertained by INVINCIBLE but not necessarily moved. Overall, it's a good effort and all performers do good work... but INVINCIBLE, though solid and entertaining, is not a stand-out in the genre.
... B- ...