Too sentimental but a good look at the American Dream

Rating: Null/10 (3 November 2003)

Every since he was a boy, Rudy Ruettiger has dreamed that he would play football for Notre Dame college. However his grades are low in high school and he misses out  ending up at his dad's steel mill. When his closest friend is killed on the job, Rudy sets out to follow his dream and enlists at Holy Cross college to get his grades and takes on jobs within Notre Dame to make his dream come true.
I taped this as I thought it would be the traditional sports movie where the underdog comes through to win the big game at the key moment. Happily this film aspires to be more than that and is very obvious that it has no desire to be a football film, in fact the game isn't really shown until the final few moments of the film. Of more interest is the look at Rudy's dream and how it is very difficult to reach, he has to work very hard to get his dream, it isn't something that he is entitled too or has dropped in his lap  it is an American Dream build on work and persistence. The story is inspiring but is also mixed in reality  Rudy's dream amounts to one tackle and 8 seconds of game time. This took away a little from his story, but also it made it a better ending  his appearance is in a game already won with only seconds left, but it's HIS dream.
The film is way too sentimental and mawkish at times, but it's strong theme still makes it work and be enjoyable. The cast do a good job on the whole but it is Astin's movie and he does a great job in the lead, maybe only being a bit too nice at times. Favreau is OK in a small role, as is Beatty but Taylor has almost nothing to do and barely shows her face. Dutton is good as always. However the film does rest of Astin's abilities and he does it well.
Overall this is a good sports movie except it isn't really a sports movie. Despite it being sentimental and slightly predictable it is still a good story of chasing a dream and fair comment on the fact that the `American Dream' is not just something that happens, it is something to be worked on and chased, and even then  not everyone's dream will result in them being rich etc, but, it says, in America, if you work hard and persevere, then anything is possible.