Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

Rating: 9/10 (13 November 2009)

If you don't like Rudy you have to be just a terribly cynical and rather unhappy person. It may not fit the mold of what are generally thought to be "classic" films. But few movies will make you feel any better. This is as uplifting and inspiring as cinema gets and if you can't see that then I feel sorry for you. How anyone could not be left with a smile on their face after watching this movie is beyond me.
The film's story is actually rather simple. Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger grew up in Illinois with one dream...to play football for his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Unfortunately for Rudy this was essentially an impossible dream. He's much too small to play major college football and, as one character will point out, he possesses hardly a speck of athletic ability. And while he's not much of a football player Rudy isn't much of a student either. He doesn't have the grades to get into community college much less Notre Dame. But what Rudy does have is a seemingly limitless supply of heart and determination. He is going to play football at Notre Dame and nobody will ever convince him otherwise.
As we follow Rudy's journey and see all the obstacles put up in his way it is almost unfathomable that he could ultimately succeed. But this is a movie about living the dream. The writer and director are never shy about tugging on the viewer's heartstrings as Rudy's story unfolds. They knew that in order for the movie to ultimately work those watching were going to have to fall in love with their main character. And sure enough, thanks in no small part to a wonderful performance from Sean Astin, Rudy is a character you embrace wholeheartedly. There are more than a few times during the film when you might find yourself with a lump in the throat. And then there's that final scene which, inevitable though it may be, packs such a tremendous emotional wallop. It's a scene which proves that yes it is OK for even the toughest of tough guys to shed a tear when watching a movie. Rare is the movie which makes you want to stand up and cheer even as you wipe the tears from your eyes. This is one of those movies. It may never make any of those lists of all-time greatest movies. But when you need a pick-me-up, when you need a little inspiration, maybe when you need to have a little bit of faith restored you can't do any better than to sit down and spend two hours in the company of this lovable underdog. All together now...RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!