Yet Another Sports Film About Personal Triumph

Rating: 5/10 (27 December 2006)

INVINCIBLE, though the title of this very Walt Disney/Hallmark Card docudrama, is a term that could be applied to the plethora of movies built on the stories of down and outers who pull themselves up by the boot strings due to their success in sports. Brad Gann is responsible for the script of the life of Vince Papale, a 30ish out of work substitute teacher, deserted husband, depressed South Philly member of a gang of friends who pass the time while jobless playing football in the muddy vacant lots of their part of the world.
Vince Papale is played well by Mark Wahlberg, giving a quiet performance of a deeply injured man who manages to finally succeed at something - being chosen by the failing Philadelphia Eagles football team when a new coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) tries a desperate attempt to enliven the team by holding open tryouts. Vince's friends convince him to make the effort, the bar owners relative Janet (Elizabeth Banks) adds her encouragement as does Vince's father (Kevin Conway). Of course the obvious happens or the film wouldn't have been made! Vince becomes an Eagle and soars, not only for himself but also for his father, his friends and his new girl.
It is difficult to fault this film: it is also difficult to sift out anything different from all the rest of the films that follow the same formula. Wahlberg does well, being careful not to allow his physique image to show for fear that the public will continue to think of him as an underwear model instead of an actor. And the supporting cast is well selected. There is an audience for these 'sports as king' films and this one has nothing that even kids can't watch. It unfortunately is just repetitive. Grady Harp